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    As Good As Gone
    As Good As Gone
    As Good As Gone
    Audiobook9 hours

    As Good As Gone

    Written by Larry Watson

    Narrated by Richard Poe

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The American West is bestselling author Larry Watson's forte, and in this, his tenth novel, he has created his most vivid, genuine antihero yet in Calvin Sidey, a man stuck in a myth. Calvin Sidey, steely, hardened, with his own personal code, is one of the last cowboys. It's the 1960s, and he's living off the grid in a trailer on the prairie when his adult son, Bill, seeks his help. A mostly absentee father and grandfather, Calvin nevertheless agrees to stay with his grandchildren for a week. He decamps for his son's house in the small town where he once was a mythic figure, and soon enough problems arise: a boy's attentions to seventeen-year-old Ann are increasingly aggressive, and a group of reckless kids portend danger for eleven-year-old Will. Calvin only knows one way to solve a problem: the Old West way, in which ultimatums are issued and your gun is always loaded. In the changing culture of the 1960s, Calvin isn't just a relic; he's a wild card. At the same time, his old-school ways exert a powerful effect on those around him, from the widowed neighbor, Beverly Lodge, who feels herself falling for him and wants to be part of his life, to his grandchildren. Ann and Will see in their grandfather a man who brings a sudden, if shocking, order to their lives, as Calvin terrorizes those who have often terrorized them. With the crisp, restrained prose for which Larry Watson is revered, As Good as Gone is a story of a man increasingly at odds with the world. This is Larry Watson at his best.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 21, 2016
    ISBN9781501911897
    As Good As Gone
    Author

    Larry Watson

    The author of many novels, including Montana 1948 and Orchard, Larry Watson is the recipient of the Milkweed National Fiction Prize, among numerous other prizes and awards. He teaches writing and literature at Marquette University and lives in Milwaukee.

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    Reviews for As Good As Gone

    4/5

    141 ratings38 reviews

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    • 2/5
      Crudeness might be realistic, but I don't need to read it in my relaxation time.

      Jumped out at page 36.

      Enjoyed the setting, though - both the western landscape and the '60's era. And Calvin Sidey is an awesome ol' cranky dude. Total Clint Eastwood Gran Torino style.
    • 4/5
      As Good As Gone by Larry Watson is another one of his rich stories about family, trust and reliability told in his resolute yet touching style that produces a powerful and heart felt story. Watson returns to his familiar territory of small town, Montana sets his tale in the early 1960’s. By 1963 Calvin Sidey has spent a lifetime of leaving. He left his own parents to strike out on his own, he left America to go to war and he abandoned both his sobriety and his family after his wife’s death, he is most comfortable when alone, but when his estranged son, David, requests that he come and stay with his kids while he travels with his wife across Montana for her to have a hysterectomy, he agrees to return to the small town and oversee his two grandchildren. Sidey has his own way of dealing with things and it’s an old fashioned, hard core way of fists and threats so it isn’t too long before the atmosphere is one of tension and menace. Whether he is dealing with a neighbour’s wandering dog, his granddaughter’s abusive boyfriend or a derelict tenant of his son, Calvin acts from his gut. Calvin receives comfort from a neighbour, Beverly, but she can see that this is a man who is always ready to run and she shouldn’t plan on a long term relationship.I enjoyed this novel very much as each family member had their own challenges and conflicts to deal with. In another era Calvin would have been a western hero, but his ways are not meant for modern times. With As Good As Gone, Watson has produced another book that helps define family loyalty and connections, through a story that is both suspenseful and dramatic.
    • 4/5
      “No matter how long they’ve been there, the people who live out here believe that whatever life demands of them they can meet it on their own. And perhaps they can. But Bill Sidey knows he’s not cut from that cloth. The infinite sky that inspires certainty in some people breeds doubt in him, and he’s never been sure what the truth of human endeavor is: Are we meant to do it on our own or with the help of others?”A very well-written tale of family, exile, and the ties that bind no matter what. Ultimately, it's about the folly of rejecting the help one needs in favor of going it alone, whether out of fear, pride, or ignorance. The sense of place - a large town on the Montana prairie in 1963 - is excellent, with the changing landscape echoing the broader changes becoming evident in the Western ethos.
    • 4/5
      That crotchety old man! I rooted for him through the whole book.Larry Watson’s books are peopled with individuals who remain true to their characters. As we get to know the members of the Sidey family and the townspeople, he shares a piece of the puzzle along the way, then another piece falls into place, but you find at the end, he’s withheld some of the pieces. We are left to puzzle out some things on our own. Marjorie Sidey needs an operation; her husband, Bill, takes her to the hospital hundreds of miles away, leaving his estranged father, Calvin Sidey, in charge of the children, Ann, 17, and Will, 11. With the old Montana cowboy, nothing has changed.Spare writing, spare landscape, spare strings tying the family together. Very good, but I liked his Montana 1948 half a star better.
    • 5/5
      A western tale, set in the Sixties. Calvin is an aged former cowboy who is estranged from his sone and lives in a run-down trailer. He is coaxed into returning to his former home to house set his grandchildren. A believable story that is subtly revealed, Calvin moves messily forward - - just as in real life.
    • 4/5
      Calvin Sidey is a cowboy relic. He is seventy years old, stuck in an “Old West” mythical code. Since he does not fit in, with current society, he lives a hermit existence, entrenched in a tiny trailer, deep in the Montana woods. His adult son, wants a favor. Watch his teenage children, while his wife has surgery, in a distant city. Calvin reluctantly agrees. Will trouble follow? I think it is a safe bet...Watson knows the modern west intimately. He also draws intricate characters, warts and all and like Kent Haruf, has a deep understanding and love, of his elder creations. This is not as strong as his last novel, Let Him Go, but Watson is still producing, solid, western-based literature.
    • 4/5
      I quite enjoyed this story by Larry Watson, which I can't say about everything he's written. It all seemed to fit with the time period of the story, and the characters didn't suddenly become someone else. I did appreciate being in everyone's head and generally wanted more. Could see him returning to some of these characters in a future novel, and I'd be sure to pick it up.
    • 3/5
      This was received as an advance reader copy. I requested this book based on reading Montana 1948 by the same author. I loved Montana 1948, but just could not get into As Good As Gone. Perhaps, this was not the book for me at this particular time, as I see others have enjoyed this book. I could not make myself plod through it, but will try another time.
    • 4/5
      Calvin Sidey left his hometown of Gladstone after his French wife died on a visit home. Leaving two young children in his wake, he buried his grief in the hardscrabble life of an American cowboy. His son Bill, who took over Calvin's former home and real estate business, calls Calvin home to watch over his grandchildren while Bill and his wife head to Missoula for her medical care. The past and present collide as Calvin struggles with his feelings toward a widowed neighbor, teenaged Ann and young Will. Unable to respond in any way except the code of the old West, Calvin and his children make poor decisions during his stay, and Calvin's only way to deal with the consequences is to flee. While absorbing and well-written, the resolution of the novel seemed too simplistic. While there is potential for personal transformation in all the characters, this is not achieved. The characters are compelling, and their situations touching. This makes it well worth reading despite my disappointment in the ending.
    • 4/5
      This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher, with the understanding that I will provide an unbiased review.Calvin Sidey is called upon to take care of his grandchildren while his son and daughter-in-law are away for the woman to have surgery. Calvin is a recluse, an old-school cowboy with his own way of living and doing things.There are things going on in the lives of the grandchildren that they don't want to share with the adults in their lives. They need help, but refuse to ask for it. They try to manage on their own, and it all backfires. Then Calvin steps in, tries to manage things on his own . . . and that more than backfires.Montana 1948 was a hard act to follow, and I probably judge Watson's work a bit more critically because of the expectations that marvellous book created for me. As Good As Gone didn't grab me quickly like Montana, 1948. I was slow to get into it.Some good things: the characters are complex and thoughtfully drawn. The setting in 1960's Montana comes alive -- any time I'm tempted to forget where and when I'm at in this book, some well-chosen item from popular culture will remind me. (No, I never lived in Montana, but I sure remember the 1960's.)I will say that the characters were all annoying, each in his or her own way. The Sideys have a fiercely independent streak that can only serve to create havoc. Of course that havoc leads to conflict, essential for a story.By the end, when the you-know-what really hit the fan, I was battling with the knowledge that I should read carefully, but yielding to the temptation to rush to see how it would turn out. So, in that regard, the book was a success -- I wanted to know how it turned out. I give it 4 stars because it is so well-written, but can't call it highly enjoyable for me.
    • 3/5
      I received As Good As Gone by Larry Watson from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting story to read and perfect for a lazy summer afternoon or day at the beach. Although it's not a type of story I would have chosen myself to read and I did have alittle trouble getting through it because of it, I can see where fans of Larry Watson would enjoy it. Calvin Sidey and his grandchildren are interesting characters. The storyline is intriguing, and the dustcover art is very nice. Overall it was a good read.
    • 3/5
      Larry Watson is a true Montana author, although he grew up in North Dakota and lives in Wisconsin. He accurately captures the raw, open landscape of eastern Montana, the often hardscrabble characters who are shaped by that landscape and the stories that are acted out on the same landscape. In “As Good As Gone”, set in the 1960s, Watson brings to life Calvin Sidey, a reluctant, reclusive loner who abandoned his family many years earlier when his beloved wife died unexpectedly. Calvin is a character who brings to mind Clint Eastwood physically and in terms of outlook. Against his better judgement. Calvin agrees to “babysit” the adolescent grandchildren he barely knows while his son takes his wife across the state for an operation.Calvin is truly not meant to live among people and engage in the day to day interactions that are required. Returning to Gladstone, and the memories of the time surrounding his wife’s death, and being responsible for his grandchildren’s care sets in motion a compelling narrative. Calvin, each of his grandchildren and the infatuated neighbor lady are well drawn characters and believable in their thoughts and actions.I enjoyed the book, probably more for its Montana setting, than for the story itself. Understanding of course that the novel took place in 1963 I was very uncomfortable with the stereotyping of Lonnie Long Pipe who is portrayed as an abusive, drunken Indian. This seemed too easy and the effort was not taken to provide Lonnie with a convincing.Watson has garnered praise and won many regional awards for his writing. This is the third of his books that I have read and I honestly look forward to future works. “Let Him Go” was a better novel in my opinon and much richer in terms of characterization and plot. But I recommend “As Good as Gone” to fans of Montana authors….even if they live in Milwaukee!
    • 3/5
      Slowly developed story about a man you keep hoping will "change his spots", while invited to care for his grandkids while the parents are away. Somewhat disjointed, much of the background story is developed with the spreading of tales and ancient rumors about the man. I kept hoping for a new beginning for the man, but I guess that wa too much to expect in this true to life tale.
    • 4/5
      Calvin Sidey has a reputation for being tough, sharp and even violent in the small Montana town he abandoned so many years ago. When his young French wife was accidentally killed on a trip back to visit her mother, Calvin went off the rails, leaving his young son and a successful real estate behind to work as a ranch hand, and to live in isolation on the prairie. Whether he actually killed a man before he left is still a matter of speculation among those who remember back that far. And now that he’s returned, temporarily at any rate, those old stories are gaining new credence with every encounter. Calvin’s son Bill and daughter-in-law Marjorie now live in the house he moved out of, with their 17-year-old daughter and their 11-year-old son, who barely know their grandfather. But when Marjorie Sidey decides she must travel to Missoula for a hysterectomy Bill asks his father to come stay with the children, to be there, “just in case” while their parents are out of town. Both of his grandchildren have things going on in their lives that they are not sharing with their parents, but Calvin, despite being dangerously out of touch with the changing world of the 1960’s, seems to “get” them a bit better. His granddaughter shares his tendency to deal with her troubles without dreaming of asking for help --even for a 17-year-old, Ann Sidey exhibits an astonishing lack of instinct for self-preservation, but she comes to see her grandfather as a source of strength and support.This is also the story of Beverly Lodge, the Sideys’ widowed next-door-neighbor, who remembers Calvin as the good-looking, athletic older boy who unintentionally set all the girls’ hearts throbbing before he went off to war and came back married to a foreigner. Beverly now finds herself attracted to this maverick who has so little tact or tenderness, and who seems not to care a damn about much of anything.A lot happens in this novel, and much of it is not what you expect to happen. There always seems to be violence bubbling beneath the surface, and when it rises it takes an unpredictable shape. It was an engrossing read, but I’m hard-pressed to know what the take-away is meant to be. No one seems greatly changed by any of the events that play out here, least of all Calvin himself. But there are subtle consequences of Calvin’s brief presence. Conceivably he leaves Gladstone this time, a little better than he found it.
    • 4/5
      Enter Calvin Sidey, a man who handled heart break by walking away from his children. Enter his Bill, oddly requesting Calvin to leave his seclusion and return to the town to watch over his grandchildren while Bill is tending to his wife during an operation. Family dynamics, a subject frequently tackled, but Larry Watson has spun a tale with rich characters that takes the reader no time to latch on to. Great story, great writing = great read. This was my first Watson novel and I plan to discover more of his work. Definitely movie material. I won this book through LibraryThing's early reader program and would recommend it as a quick summer read.
    • 4/5
      Calvin is an old cowboy who lives in a beaten down trailer in the plains of Montana in the 1960s. He avoids other people including the family that he abandoned years before after his wife died. As the story begins, his son Bill has come to ask him to stay with his two grandchildren while Bill takes his wife to another town for surgery. Surprisingly, Calvin agrees and he returns to the town that he grew up in to watch over his 17 year old granddaughter and 11 year old grandson. Calvin is a man of few words who appears to handle life in a straightforward way - he makes his point first and asks questions later. Yet the author allows us to see a softer side of Calvin in small ways when he thinks about his wife and the way he treats his grandchildren.If you are looking for a book with a lot of action, this isn't the book for you. However, if you are looking for a book with a great lead character who stays true to his life, Calvin is a man that you won't soon forget. I plan to look into earlier books by Calvin Watson because of my enjoyment of the characters in this novel.Thanks to LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
    • 5/5
      It's been a while since I've read a Larry Watson novel, and his book, Montana 1948, is one of my all-time favorites, so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read his latest book thanks to Librarything. As with his other novels, Watson brought his characters to life. He did a great job with all of them from a pre-adolescent boy to a 17 year-old beautiful young woman to their parents, their grandfather and a middle-aged widow. Both of the kids were struggling with problems they weren't capable of handling alone, and one could feel their desperation to escape their circumstances. The main character is a study in contrasts; he is a taciturn cowboy living in isolation and a Latin scholar. I liked how quickly his grandchildren came to understand him and accept him in their lives. It was interesting to see a town in transition in the early 60s from the days of ranches to suburbia, and the beginning of racial integration.I would have liked to know more about the future of the characters in the book. I wonder if the author is considering a sequel; there's certainly plenty of potential. Although I was disappointed that the book ended abruptly, I did feel it was in keeping with the persona of Calvin Sidey. The book is beautifully written and raises many issues worthy of a book discussion. I highly recommend the book to everyone.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed Watson's writing in his tale of an aging cowboy who has left the world behind. When asked to watch his grandchildren while his daughter-in-law has an operation, he is forced to confront a world he thought he had abandoned. The character fascinated me as I read deeper into the story. The author says his wife urged him to finish this book. I suspect that is true. It is an engaging story, but I suspect he was not happy where it was leading and stopped short of concluding the story. The conclusion he did write left me dissatisfied. Maybe it is the best one could hope for and fits the story, but it was something less than I wanted.
    • 4/5
      This story is set in 1963 Montana. Bill Sidey pays a visit to his old-school cowboy father, Calvin Sidey, in his ramshackle trailer in the middle of the desert to ask him to come and spend a week with his 2 grandchildren. This is so Bill can take his wife to a bigger town for an operation. Calvin agrees and of course, considering the picture the author paints of Calvin as a rugged individual, it’s a given that he’s probably going to find trouble while in town and that’s exactly what he does while defending his family. I enjoyed the story overall but felt there were some weak points. For instance, unless Bill just wanted to try to get his dad to change his solitary ways, which wasn’t implied, there didn’t seem to be a believable reason for him to ask his dad to stay with the children in the first place. There were reasons given, but they were weak. Also, some of the characters seemed unnecessary and their roles never developed enough to make them relevant to the story. I liked the romance between Calvin and the neighbor Beverly, but even it seemed to be stilted. I believe the author wanted to show that Calvin wasn’t going to change for anyone, but… I also didn’t like the way the author made it seem like Marjorie's (Bill's wife) operation (female in nature) was totally unnecessary and she just wanted it done on a whim. I felt like because she wanted, not needed, this operation she was the one who put the whole family including herself, in jeopardy . The ending was kind of abrupt and while in line with Calvin's character, I guess I hoped he would change. Like I said, good overall, but just missed on a few points.
    • 4/5
      Calvin Sidey is an old cowboy who abandoned his two children when his wife, Pauline, died. He’s living out in an old trailer, estranged from almost everyone who knew him. His son, Bill, asks him come to his house for a week or so to keep an eye on the kids while Bill’s wife, Marjorie, has surgery. What follows is quite an eventful visit from Grandpa. His 17-year-old granddaughter, Ann, is receiving unwanted attention from an old boyfriend and his 11-year-old grandson, Will, is trying to avoid a confrontation with his rowdy friends. Calvin may be old but he’s the same tough, no-nonsense man of his youth who hasn’t stopped living the Old West cowboy beliefs.I’ve only read one other Larry Watson book, “Orchard”, and based on that experience, I had expected something much darker. This is written in a lighter manner with quite a bit of humor throughout. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its suspenseful moments. The author is an expert at bringing his characters to life. He writes down-to-earth, very true-to-life stories. I couldn’t help but root for Calvin even as I cringed at some of his decisions. I loved each and every one of these characters and hated to see the book end. I will definitely be finding some time to read more of this author’s work and am very glad I was given a copy of this one. It’s funny, sad and suspenseful. Recommended.
    • 5/5
      This book answers the question of what happens to old cowboys. Sometimes it is not pretty combining myths and present day realities, but it can be very interesting. Always answering challenges and confrontations with a fist or other violence may not be the acceptable way in today's well-mannered society, but it's honestly heat felt in this novel. Watson always creates memorable characters who are trying to cope with life the best they can ... he doesn't disappoint here.
    • 5/5
      As always, Larry Watson has given us as readers an intense story which leaves a lasting impression. I read the entire book during a rainy vacation day. Set in Gladstone, Montana in the early 1960s, three generations of men in one family face moral dilemmas and must figure out how to come to terms with their own set of life principals. The reader is presented with a cowboy, a businessman, a boy, and a teenage girl as well. I was fascinated at the way the character of the three generations remained true throughout, yet the cultural changes impacted the choices being made. There are primal moments of passion, anger, and love. Excellent novel.
    • 4/5
      As Good As Gone, is the type of book where the promise of something happening is always just around the corner, but then it either fizzles out or is not realized the way the reader expected. The story takes place in the early 1960's in a small town in Montana. Calvin Sidey, is asked by his grown son Bill to come take care of his kids while he and his wife travel to Missoula so his wife can have an operation. Calvin is a loner, with a number of issues one of which is he is a "cowboy" in a world that no loner values this skill set. Calvin lives in a trailer way outside of town. I expected a bit more of the "fish out of water scenario, with Calvin needing to be back in town. I also expected a little more interaction with his grandkids.My biggest complaint though was how the book ends. It was like the author was given a couple of hours to wrap he story up and so everything is sort of resolved in 2 short chapters. And even at that much of the events leading up to the end are left hanging.The author can clearly write a quality story, sadly endings don't seem to be his strong suit.
    • 4/5
      As Good as Gone by Larry Watson is a rare treat. Well developed characters a well paced story and snappy, intelligent writing. You'll be immediately drawn into Gladstone, Montana and the early 60's as Mr. Watson captures nuances of the time period with descriptive dialogue that never gets in the way of a great story. This happy reader was immediately immersed in the world of Calvin Sidey, an old cowboy who abandoned his family long ago after the passing of his wife. Cal is called upon by his son Bill to come back to Gladstone and watch his grandchildren for a week while Bill and his wife are taking care of a medical issue out of town. A book I'd recommend to anyone. Time with Calvin Sidey and his family is time well spent!
    • 3/5
      This is a literary novel. In other words, it contains to much tell and not enough show, I liked the time period and the characters but the story itself moved to slow for my taste.
    • 5/5
      Willie Nelson sings, "Don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys." Larry Watson's novel "As Good as Gone" carries the same message, as well as another, "Don't let cowboys be baby-sitters."Before taking his wife to Missoula for an operation, Bill Sidey asks his father, Calvin, to move into their basement and keep an eye on his grandchildren, 17-year-old Ann and 11-year-old Will. Calvin spent years working as a cowboy after the death of his wife, Bill's mother, whom he had met in France during the World War I. Now he lives as a recluse in a trailer, an ex-cowboy who reads books in Latin. The year is 1963, and Watson beautifully captures that time in history.What Bill and Marjorie, his wife, don't know as they leave for the distant hospital is that Ann and Will are each in trouble. Ann is being stalked by an aggressive ex-boyfriend. Will hangs out with a couple of boys he doesn't like but doesn't know how to avoid. They want him to help them find a way for them to see his sister naked. Without actually understanding these problems, Calvin takes action, but his way of solving problems involves tough words, fists, knives and, as a last resort, guns.Meanwhile he becomes involved with Beverly, a neighbor woman with a grown son who lives with her and takes advantage of her. This son also has an eye for lovely Ann, which may help explain why Beverly wasn't the first choice to watch the Sidey children.. She realizes Calvin is trouble, but he also makes her feel like a desirable woman for the first time in many years.Watson develops his plot in such a way that it could turn in many different directions, and it does, surprising the reader at every turn. "As Good as Gone" is a Clint Eastwood movie waiting to happen, but before it does, be sure to read this incredible novel.
    • 2/5
      As Good As Gone is a story about a father who abandoned his children after his late wife's death and his family. The story takes place 30 years after this when his son's wife needs an operation to remove an ovarian cyst. Calvin, the grandfather, stays with his two grandchildren while their parents are away. I had high expectations going into this book, and sadly, they were not met. Absolutely nothing happened in this 300 and some pages. I found myself muddling through these pages just waiting for something exciting to happen. Now, I can't lie and say that nothing happened; there was some romance and action, but other than that nothing. After finishing the end of the book I turned the page expecting to see at least one more chapter. The book ended in the worst way possible. Calvin had not changed at all which was incredibly disappointing since his character showed real potential in the book. Bottomline, don't bother with this book unless you just want to waste your time.
    • 3/5
      A good story of an Old School tough man teaches is grandchildren how to grow up as strong independent individuals while at the same time helping his son be a soft, sensitive loving husband. At the same time he overcomes his own past weaknesses and learns he is more loving than it thoguth possible.
    • 5/5
      If you like books about aging cowboys and the West then you will love this book. A son asks his father to move into town for a week to stay with his kids while his wife is in the hospital for an operation in a nearby city. When the grandfather finds out the kids have problems that they need help with he takes it on himself to solve them the way he always led his life and the way he solved his own problems, which may not be always the best way. A wonderful book by one of my favorite authors and one of his best, although I have read all of his books and they are all great!
    • 3/5
      Set in 1963, this is a story about an aging cowboy, Calvin Sidey, who abandoned his children years ago after his wife was killed while visiting her family in Europe. His estranged son Bill asks him to come watch his children, eleven-year-old Will and seventeen-year-old Ann, while he drives his wife to a distant hospital for major surgery. Calvin reluctantly agrees, and is soon drawn into crises both children are enduring, and is also drawn to Beverly, the widow next door. When Ann is stalked by an ex-boyfriend, Calvin takes direct and violent action. By the conclusion it has become apparent that Calvin's cowboy ethos does not always lead to desirable outcomes. When Calvin is faced with a crossroads, the book disappoints with an ending that may be realistic, but passes up the opportunity to show how an old, stubborn, wounded man might be able to still change and grow. A blurb on the back suggests Clint Eastwood in the role of Calvin for a purported movie, and I can see it. Calvin comes across very much like the character of Walt in "Gran Torino". Unfortunately, he fails to redeem his past deficiencies and missteps as Walt did.