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Woe to Live On: A Novel Audiobook
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(4.03) - 355 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Set in the border states of Kansas and Missouri, Woe to Live On explores the nature of lawlessness and violence, friendship and loyalty, through the eyes of young recruit Jake Roedel. Where he and his fellow First Kansas Irregulars go, no one is safe, no one can be neutral. Roedel grows up fast, experiencing a brutal parody of war without standards or mercy. But as friends fall and families flee, he questions his loyalties and becomes an outsider even to those who have become outlaws.
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"Daniel Woodrell hit a home run with this book. The author of the critically acclaimed novel, Winter's Bone, gives us a novel set along the Kansas-Missouri border during the Civil War. The central character is a teenager named Jake Roedel, who is a member of the First Kansas Irregulars. Basically, Jake and his friends are Confederate Bushwackers at war with the Kansas Jayhawkers. They are led by Black John Ambrose, whose character is clearly modeled after "Bloody Bill" Anderson. Among Jake's friends is Holt, who is a former slave who chose to fight with the bushwackers when most former slaves chose to fight for the Union. This book can be heartwarming at times, while other times it can be extremely brutal. If you are a fan of historical fiction, I strongly recommend this book."
— Clint (5 out of 5 stars)
Woe to Live On Listener Reviews
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" The story is brutal and depicts the horrors of war in such a vivid way that I was disgusted by these murderers. At the same time, I found that I was sympathetic to them, and their need for vengeance after being "invaded," and the language nearly made me laugh throughout. "
— Mike, 1/15/2014 -
" Set on the Missouri/ Kansas border in the dying days of the Civil War. Full of the wonderful langauge that is Woodrell's forte and characters you remember long after the book is done. "
— Al, 1/11/2014 -
" I read this after seeing the Ang Lee movie "Ride with the Devil." Beautifully written, studded with small gems of language, e.g., "As he left me, hope was with me, but I was getting suspicious of it, and did not toss a big embrace around it." "
— Dan, 1/2/2014 -
" Another amazingly great book from Woodrell, such a talent ! "
— Sharon, 1/1/2014 -
" It isn't often that I can finish a book and immediately want to flip back to page 1 and start again. In fact, I knew before I'd even finished chapter one that I was going to give it 5 stars and return to read it again some day. Mr. Woodrell makes me proud to be a bookworm. "
— Joshua, 11/26/2013 -
" A completely different look at the Civil War. Great book. "
— Janet, 11/22/2013 -
" Dayum. Brutal and amazing. "
— Alissa, 10/23/2013 -
" Easiest five stars I've given in quite some time. I am otherwise speechless in my admiration of this book and Woodrell as a writer. Minus some appreciative cussing. "
— Louisa, 12/19/2012 -
" Wild story that takes place during the Civil War - as seen from the rebels side - an ultimately a love story too. "
— Annette, 11/7/2012 -
" Just "discovered" this author. Loved his "Winter's Bone", and "Woe to Live On" makes me want to read more of his work. "
— Dennis, 7/22/2012 -
" A civil war action novel. I love the way he writes. I think I could read about his charaters talking about anything. "
— Nate, 6/14/2012
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 Bernard Setaro Clark
Bernard Setaro Clark is an actor, writer, and narrator of audiobooks, whose titles include Rag & Bones, Childless, While We Run, Wise Men, and others. He lives in Atlanta.