The power of the dog

I understand that not every protagonist is going to be likeable. I understand sometimes you're going to get one like Phil Burbank, who is an asshole, knows he is an asshole, and likes being an asshole. I know that a character like this can have a sort of internal logic and justification for being an asshole that is a product of that character's time and setting. I know that some characters are designed to be pitied rather than loved. I understand that a story told about this type of character is just as valid as one about a protagonist you like so much you'd want to hang out with them in real life.

Doesn't mean it makes for an enjoyable reading experience.

I had been lamenting the fact that I don't re-read as much as I'd like so I picked this one up on impulse after singing its praises to someone who had just watched the film (a brilliant film imo). Well my opinion hasn't changed very much. This is still a fantastic novel and it amazes me Thomas Savage isn't more well known. Hopefully, Campion's film changes that because the prose here is sharp and the components that make this such an excellent story (plot, characterization, dialogue, theme, etc) are so smoothly woven together. This is a masterful work.

Ich habe den Film gesehen und wollte wissen, ob er wegen ungeschickter Literaturverfilmung so schlecht ist. So war es auch. Im Buch ist alles subtiler, und dass die Ranch-Arbeit nur ganz angedeutet stattfindet, fällt im Buch weniger auf als im Film, wo Leute in Cowboyfetischkleidung vor allem dekorativ herumstehen. Außerdem mochte ich den Erzählstil.