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Tomato Red: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,118 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A sharp and funny addition to Daniel Woodrell's collection of "country noir" novels, featuring anti-hero Sammy Barlach and Jamalee Merridew, her hair tomato red with rage and ambition.
In the Ozarks, what you are is where you are born. If you're born in Venus Holler, you're not much. For Jamalee Merridew, Venus Holler just won't cut it. Jamalee sees her brother Jason, blessed with drop-dead gorgeous looks and the local object of female obsession, as her ticket out of town. But Jason may just be gay, and in the hills and hollows of the Ozarks that is the most dangerous and courageous thing a man could be.
Enter Sammy Barlach, a loser ex-con passing through a tired nowhere on the way to a fresher nowhere. Jamalee thinks Sammy is just the kind of muscle she and Jason need.
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"Trailer park noir about a drifter who befriends two hillbilly goth kids who have "plans" for him. What these plans are we never really find out, hmm. Anyway, the brother gets gay bashed to death and then the story kinda spirals into nothingness. The book needed Bubbles, Randy and Mister Lahey."
— Andy (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Dan Woodrell does for the Ozarks what Raymond Chandler did for Los Angeles.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“A shimmering novel, rich with insight…a pleasure…Zooms on the rocket fuel of Woodrell’s explosively original language.”
— Washington Post Book World -
“Told in a voice that crackles with energy and wit, Tomato Red is sharp, funny, and more importantly, true.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“Woodrell’s storytelling is as melodic, jangly, and energetic as a good banjo riff…Sammy Barlach’s story is a tragedy, but the telling of it is a pleasure.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Woodrell’s language is a lyrical blend of comic wit and redneck twang. His vast life experience brings a fresh, poignant look at Appalachian people. Keep ‘em coming!”
— Library Journal -
Dan Woodrell does for the Ozarks what Raymond Chandler did for Los Angeles.
— Richard Eder, Los Angeles Times -
A shimmering novel, rich with insight...a pleasure... Zooms on the rocket fuel of Woodrell's explosively original language.
— The Washington Post Book World -
Woodrell's storytelling is as melodic, jangly and energetic as a good banjo riff.... Sammy Barlach's story is a tragedy, but the telling of it is a pleasure.
— Valerie Sayers, The New York Times Book Review
Awards
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Recipient of the 1999 PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award
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Longlisted for the 2000 International Dublin Literary Award
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A 1998 New York Times Notable Book for Fiction
Tomato Red Listener Reviews
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" another dissapointing ending. "
— Jeremy, 1/26/2014 -
" Another read inspired by attending Bouchercon. Well-crafted characters and amazing prose. "Country noir," indeed. "
— Linda, 1/23/2014 -
" A stunningly written novel. Pretty much faultless, actually. "
— Sean, 1/22/2014 -
" What a likable loser. "
— Aruna, 1/22/2014 -
" it's no Winter's Bone but still better than most "
— Stephen, 1/12/2014 -
" Stylistic, propulsive, funny - gems to be found on every page here. And I can't think of another book quite like it, not when considering the subject matter. "
— Kilean, 1/10/2014 -
" One of the best books I've read in a long time. Woodrell's sentences are so full you want to read each one out loud to feel the detail in your mouth. You'll be hooked by the first (incredibly long) sentence. "
— Emilylinn, 12/30/2013 -
" Great. Felt like I was in the Ozarks with some of the world's biggest and lovable losers "
— Bob, 12/24/2013 -
" Haunting. Woodrell is coarse and poetic at the same time. The Eminem of the Ozarks. "
— Rebecca, 11/23/2013 -
" It was alright. The Outlaw Album was great and Winter's Bone is in my top 5 books of all time. It's ok Woodrell, all you need is one masterwork to be immortal. "
— David, 11/16/2013 -
" Like Winter's Bone,the author created atmosphere/setting perfectly. I felt I could really see this world and its characters. However, I didn't like these characters and so liked the book less. "
— Martha, 10/23/2013 -
" Excellent book about the have-nots in rural US society. Love the way this author writes. This is why I read. "
— Doctorwu51, 8/11/2013 -
" Second favorite Woodrell after The Death of Sweet Mister. Again, not an uplifting book, but dark, rich, quirky, and beautifully written. "
— Dave, 7/13/2013 -
" well written, gritty white trash, red neck yarn. "
— Worth, 4/7/2013 -
" Really enjoyed this book. It's written in a way that quickly draws you into the story. The characters are interesting, colorful, and feel genuine. It's funny, filled with expertly crafted prose and memorable quotes, and is both touching and tragic. "
— G8tes, 3/8/2013 -
" Hard book to find but well worth the effort. Short and not plot-driven but the prose is so beautiful and unique. I heard this book described as 'hillbilly noir' and laughed but it's a really accurate description. In a good way. "
— Andrea, 1/5/2013 -
" Beautiful, savory prose spoken by and about the trashiest no-account folks. Lots of quotable sentences that could easily be spoken by Raymond Smuckles from the comic strip Achewood. Just fantastic. "
— Autumn, 12/7/2012 -
" Really immersive if you're into country noir written in a poetically colloquial style. "
— Katie, 8/23/2012 -
" Grim, but gripping and also beautiful. "
— Al, 7/25/2012 -
" kurze kritik auf meinem blog. "
— manfred, 7/2/2012 -
" Ok not amazing... "
— Lorelai, 5/26/2012
About Daniel Woodrell
Daniel Woodrell lives in the Missouri Ozarks near the Arkansas state line. His five most recent novels were selected as New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and Tomato Red won the PEN West Award for the Novel. Two novels have been adapted as major motion pictures: Woe to Live On, filmed in 1999 by Ang Lee as Ride with the Devil, starring Tobey Maguire and Skeet Ulrich, and Winter’s Bone, a 2010 film accepted to the US dramatic competition category at the Sundance Film Festival.
About Brian Troxell
Brian Troxell is an audiobook narrator and Atlanta-based actor and voice talent who can be seen and heard on television, film, radio, podcasts, and the live stage. He is a regular cast member of the Sketchworks sketch comedy troupe and performs regularly with the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company. He can also be heard as a cast member of the Harry Strange Radio Drama.