Monday, June 25, 2018

Paul Howarth: Only Killers And Thieves

6/25/18

Only Killers And Thieves by Paul Howarth

This novel, set in the late 19th century in the Australian outback, is a kind of horrifying coming of age story encased by a horrifying revenge quest that spines the bulk of the novel’s story.

It has judging by a quick online look-see only a few reviews. I’ve linked to a couple of them.

They’re solidly affirmative but my beef with them is that they’re not excited by what a spectacular novel this is, let alone it being a debut novel. 

It’s like this book has emerged, as a first born, from its literary womb fully formed and functioning brilliantly.

Who doesn’t hear in it echoes of Conrad, Faulkner and Twain; who doesn’t see in it a quality of literariness that stands it in their high company? 

Someone tell me why (say) The Great Gatsby is a superior novel to it. 

It’s a tremendous work of art, I’d say a masterpiece. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/two-australian-boys-seek-revenge-for-their-parents-murder-in-this-blood-soaked-tale/2018/02/01/f64c3db6-05fc-11e8-8777-2a059f168dd2_story.html?utm_term=.f48aaa00e81d


https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/book-reviews/only-killers-and-thieves-gripping-tale-of-blood-dust-murder-and-revenge-37036592.html 

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