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High Plains Tango: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 320 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
With over 10 million copies sold, bestselling author Robert James Waller returns with the haunting, evocative story of a small town, a beautiful and mysterious woman, and the man forever changed by both. The wild places are where no one is looking anymore. Out there on the high plains, among the Sioux reservations and the silent buttes, among the small towns dying and the people with them, you can hear the wind. And on the back of the wind is the sound of an old accordion—tangos—mingling with the lonely thump of a single drum in the nighttime and a far-off warrior’s cry. On the back of the wind is the smell of worn saddle leather and sawdust, of sandalwood, and smoke from ancient ceremonial fires. To this, to a town called Salamander, comes Carlisle McMillan, a traveler and master carpenter seeking a place of quiet amid the grinding roar of progress. Near Wolf Butte, a strange and apparently haunted monolith, he finds his quiet, or so he believes, and begins rebuilding a decrepit house as a tribute to the gruff old man who taught him a carpenter’s skills, rebuilding his life at the same time. He finds two very different, independent women: Gally Deveraux, who works at a diner in Salamander and longs for something more than she is, and Susanna Benteen, beautiful and enigmatic, who was drawn to Salamander for mysterious reasons of her own, a woman the town has labeled a witch. The women and his carpenter’s trade and an old Indian known as Flute Player bring Carlisle a sense of contentment for a while. But his quiet is shattered as bulldozer treads begin to turn and the Yerkes County War commences. Run or stand your ground, that is Carlisle’s dilemma, Gally on one side, Susanna on the other. Robert James Waller’s fully imagined characters become people we know and care for deeply. High Plains Tango is the hauntingly lyrical story of a small town in the middle of nowhere, a town that forever changed—and was forever changed by—one man.
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"I picked this up and read it because I enjoyed "Bridges" so much. I think this is a better story than Bridges. Certainly falls into the "ChicLit" category, but I'm good with that - good characters and a good job of exploring human emotion."
— Neil (4 out of 5 stars)
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“A solid story with interesting characters…Waller gives the narrator the most wonderful wit.“
— Omaha World-Herald -
“Blends Waller’s trademark romanticism with earthy humor and a powerful environmental message.”
— Dayton Daily News
High Plains Tango Listener Reviews
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" It was very good. I love Waller's work. "
— Hubjeanne, 2/5/2014 -
" This was a very good novel about a man's disillusionment with corporate America and his move to solitude until the halfway point where it took a turn for the boring. The narration changed to a newspaper reporter interviewing locals and dirty politicians/land developers' phone calls to one another regarding Emiment Domain and the government building a freeway through his land. "
— JenC., 2/3/2014 -
" One of those fantastic books whose characters become a part of your life & stick with you for a long long time. Savor this one. "
— Deidre, 1/28/2014 -
" I wasn't sure I was going to finish this book when I started reading it. It moved a bit slow at first. But as I got into it, it grabbed me more and more and at the end, I was surprised to admit that I really liked it. "
— Heather, 12/31/2013 -
" Have enjoyed several of his other books.... "
— Helen, 12/24/2013 -
" Good easy quick read. "
— Patsy, 12/9/2013 -
" This one was a little too descriptive and flowery for me....I was glad when I finished it "
— Mary, 12/6/2013 -
" The sad thing is there are federal and state workers just like in this book. They don't give a damn about where the road goes just so long as they get something out of it; be it money for their campaign, voter support, or something else. "
— Katy, 12/3/2013 -
" I guess I'm really into romance novels with environmental/sustainable living themes these days. "
— Annie, 11/14/2013 -
" I have enjoyed a lot of Waller's older stuff, but mostly nonfiction essays. Parts of this book are quite good, but it kind of falls apart in other places. "
— Jeanette, 11/12/2013 -
" Story about South Dakota and Minnesota - my old stomping grounds. One man, 2 women, drama about a new highway saving a small town. And they all lived happily ever after. Nice writing. "
— Nancy, 10/21/2013 -
" The plot was lackluster, but I loved the descriptions of the stark geography and dying town. "
— Julie, 10/11/2013 -
" I made it through but only because I didn't have anything else to read. I'm just not into this author's style - to verbose for me. I couldn't even make it through the Bridges of Madison County at all. "
— Cherri, 7/20/2013 -
" Good foundation, a little romance, a little mystery, but gets political over the environment and begs the question of progress for sake of progress. "
— Leanne, 7/5/2013 -
" added more to the character of Carlisle McMillan.... "
— Marcy, 1/30/2013 -
" A few morsels to be gleaned, but pretty boring for me. "
— Laura, 5/23/2012 -
" So I've been reading this book for forever now. (That grad school thing gets in the way) But I really like it so far! "
— Lauren, 5/4/2012 -
" I wanted to like this book. The plot was a little weak, and it was just ok. "
— Casey, 3/13/2012 -
" not as good as Bridges of Madison County. But worth the time. "
— Louise, 3/9/2012 -
" I couldn't finish this book -- it was that bad. It seemed like the author was working hard to sell his political agenda. Just didn't work for me. "
— Jennifer, 11/27/2011 -
" This novel was too self-conscious and the writing felt forced. "
— Deirdre, 10/14/2011 -
" This is one excellent book,I loved every bit of it. "
— Margie, 8/14/2011 -
" This novel was too self-conscious and the writing felt forced. "
— Deirdre, 5/7/2011 -
" I read this twice, the second time by accident, having forgotten how little I liked it the first time. "
— Lauren, 4/9/2011 -
" The sad thing is there are federal and state workers just like in this book. They don't give a damn about where the road goes just so long as they get something out of it; be it money for their campaign, voter support, or something else. "
— Katy, 3/27/2011 -
" I love this story, the melancholy, the sadness, the love and passion...I've read it twice! "
— Heini, 1/7/2011 -
" I thought this book was a true love story about two people who wanted to be together but knew it wasn't right. "
— Julie, 1/6/2011 -
" A few morsels to be gleaned, but pretty boring for me. "
— Laura, 1/2/2011 -
" Audio <br/>A nice book and well written <br/>another slice of life/love story "
— Irene, 9/23/2010 -
" One of those fantastic books whose characters become a part of your life & stick with you for a long long time. Savor this one. "
— Deidre, 6/2/2010 -
" I wasn't sure I was going to finish this book when I started reading it. It moved a bit slow at first. But as I got into it, it grabbed me more and more and at the end, I was surprised to admit that I really liked it. "
— Heather, 5/30/2010 -
" Story about South Dakota and Minnesota - my old stomping grounds. One man, 2 women, drama about a new highway saving a small town. And they all lived happily ever after. Nice writing. "
— Nancy, 5/23/2010 -
" I made it through but only because I didn't have anything else to read. I'm just not into this author's style - to verbose for me. I couldn't even make it through the Bridges of Madison County at all. "
— Cherri, 5/22/2010 -
" I wanted to like this book. The plot was a little weak, and it was just ok. "
— Casey, 3/20/2010 -
" added more to the character of Carlisle McMillan.... "
— Marcy, 11/8/2009 -
" Good foundation, a little romance, a little mystery, but gets political over the environment and begs the question of progress for sake of progress. "
— Leanne, 9/2/2009
About Robert James Waller
Robert James Waller (1939–2017) was an American writer and author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Bridges of Madison County and Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend. The Bridges of Madison County was the basis for a major motion picture starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Street and nominated for an Academy Award. His other works include the New York Times bestsellers A Thousand Country Roads, Old Songs in a New Café: Selected Essays; Border Music; and Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, as well as a book of photographs, Images.
About Robertson Dean
Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.