That Old Ace in the Hole (Abridged) Audiobook

" This book is lighter than most of what I've read of Ms. Proulx, but she turns about to be fairly adept at McMurtry-esque Texas humor. She does cover some serious themes, but she does so by letting us watch her mold the main character from a tub of moral goo into a right decent person. "

" I thoroughly enjoyed both "the Shipping News" and "Accordion Crimes" so I thought I'd try this one. I gave up on it twice before but finally stuck it out this time. It's not so compelling a read as the others - it tracks a man scouting sites in the panhandle for monster hog farms who meets with lots of local opposition - but it has at least convinced me to make sure I always get my meat from the local farmer's market, particularly pork products. "

" Set in present-day rural Texas, this has plenty of local detail and rich characters. Good for when you want to experience a different place and way of life. "

" This didn't have a typical plot. Rather, it's about a young guy who meets lots of interesting people as he is trying to fulfill his job obligations. I liked "listening in" to their conversations. "

" Bob Dollar works for the Global Pork Rind company and set out for the Texas Panhandle to scout sites for stinky hog farms. There he settles in Woolybucket and becomes caught up in the town and its colorful history, inhabitants and future. The characters are great and you get swept in to the story. "

" Fanciful plot with such a beautiful take on harsh west Texas realities. The detailed description of Panhandle dirt, water, plants, animals was amazing. "

" Couldn't stick with it...the prose did not have any real propulsion, though I liked the teenage punk character. "

" Great book of learning to belong and region. "

" The town of Woolybucket in the Oklahoma panhandle is imaginary, as is the hero, Bob Dollar, who seeks his fortune by scouting locations for hog farming, but the tales of pioneering Americans and the Western flavour have the grit of authenticity. A great read. "

" Proulx is perhaps one of the best visual writers I have read in a long time. Her words paint a brilliant, witty, fun look at the panhandles. The characters are very well drawn out so by the middle of the book they are as real a most of the characters we all grew up with. "

" My fave female writer. This book makes you question eating meat, taking advantage of your neighbors, and a whole slew of other things, without really trying. Awesome characters. "

" This took place in the panhandle of Texas, it was a dry slow book, very similar to the place it was written about. This book certainly wouldn't convince you that it was one of 1000 places you had to see before you die. Go ahead, take the Interstate and move right on through. "

" Gotta love a book about hogs! "

" Amusing, slight, sometimes preachy, but a quick read. Hasn't put me off reading Shipping News one day. "

" Not as stunning as _The Shipping News_, but again, defining a place while the place shapes the main character. Obviously, a lot of research went into it. "

" In some ways a Texas Panhandle version of "Local Hero", an outsider representing the forces of Extinction of a Way of Life comes into a closed community of offbeat characters, and goes native. Generally an enjoyable read, but not as good as The Shipping News. "

" If you find yourself stuck in Northern Texas, this would be a great book to read. "

" Slow and spare, the prose imitates the landscape. It made me want to see panhandle Texas just once. The characters and the interweaving stories are good enough that you have to forgive the somewhat deus ex machina ending. "

" This was a fun book! Funny and loveable southern Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle characters that will crack you up! Cute and well done! "

" Excellent. Texas panhandle, you feel like you've known the characters- great reading for connection to people and place. "

" It was mildly enjoyable. I did like learning about the Texas panhandle region and I did enjoy learning about the various characters and their quirky personality traits. I did not find the main character, Bob Dollar, very compelling. "

" This was a totally enjoyable book. It is not big on plot but very character driven. I loved the characters and the descriptions of the area/small towns and the people. I often felt like I was sitting in the local diner enjoying the conversations myself. I hated for the book to end. "

" I'm putting this on my to-read list cause I am planning to re-read it but I read it once already and it is highly recommended. Even better than the Shipping News, which I also loved. "

" I rediscovered Annie Proulx with this book! "

" I really enjoyed the characters in this book. There were several laugh-out-loud moments. Funny book, like a spoof of a western. "

" If I ever eat pork again, it won't be without visions from this book. "

" Kinda slow in the middle, but worth it. Great character development. "

" Liking her writing more and more "

" This was a good read. The characters were interesting, but some not developed very much. I liked the environmental messages. The book discussed industrial hog farms, and prairie restoration. These topics are very close to my life. "

" I sat down to read this book expecting a joyous experience, but instead I found myself laboriously reading page after page after page that literally wore me out. "

" It was mildly enjoyable. I did like learning about the Texas panhandle region and I did enjoy learning about the various characters and their quirky personality traits. I did not find the main character, Bob Dollar, very compelling. "

" I couldn't put it down....perfect cliff hanger at the end to lead a reader to believe a sequel is possible. "

" I especially liked all the Denver references but I have to say all of Annie Proulx's male protagonist are always so wishy washy. What's the deal? "

" Same problem as with Shipping News - a saggy middle section. Proulx's real strength is the short story, where the demands of pacing aren't so heavy. "

" If you find yourself stuck in Northern Texas, this would be a great book to read. "

" Took me a minute to get into this one, but the main character, Bob Dollar, is quite endearing in his own understated way. Many fascinating characters and glimpse into Texas culture (in a good way, ha)... "