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    Whiskey When We're Dry: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Whiskey When We're Dry: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Whiskey When We're Dry: A Novel
    Audiobook15 hours

    Whiskey When We're Dry: A Novel

    Written by John Larison

    Narrated by Sophie Amoss

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From a blazing new voice in fiction, a gritty and lyrical American epic about a young woman who disguises herself as a boy and heads west

    In the spring of 1885, seventeen-year-old Jessilyn Harney finds herself orphaned and alone on her family's homestead. Desperate to fend off starvation and predatory neighbors, she cuts off her hair, binds her chest, saddles her beloved mare, and sets off across the mountains to find her outlaw brother Noah and bring him home. A talented sharpshooter herself, Jess's quest lands her in the employ of the territory's violent, capricious Governor, whose militia is also hunting Noah—dead or alive.

    Wrestling with her brother's outlaw identity, and haunted by questions about her own, Jess must outmaneuver those who underestimate her, ultimately rising to become a hero in her own right.

    Told in Jess's wholly original and unforgettable voice, Whiskey When We're Dry is a stunning achievement, an epic as expansive as America itself—and a reckoning with the myths that are entwined with our history.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateAug 21, 2018
    ISBN9780525631156
    Unavailable
    Whiskey When We're Dry: A Novel
    Author

    John Larison

    John Larison is an author and fly fisherman. HIs most recent book, Whiskey When We're Dry, was a Los Angeles Times and Seattle Times bestseller, an Indie Next Pick, and a finalist for the Ken Kesey Award and winner of the Will Rodgers Medallion. It was named a Best Book by O Magazine, Goodreads, Entertainment Weekly, Outside Magazine, Powell's Bookstore, NPR's All Things Considered and others. Larison lives in Bellfountain, Oregon.

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    Reviews for Whiskey When We're Dry

    4/5

    88 ratings9 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Just finished this gorgeous, heartbreaking book and am still trying to process it. All I can say is get your hands on a copy when it’s published in August. Reminiscent of the best coming of age westerns, this one blows them all away. It’s News of the World meets The Sisters Brothers meets McCabe & Mrs. Miller meets Butch Cassidy, with a little bit of Peace Like a River thrown in. One of the best of the year.
    • 4/5
      Gunfights, revenge, desperation and whiskey of course. Whiskey has much to answer for, in this Western set in the Midwest in 1885. It also gives us a very engaging character, one who in a strong voice narrates her own story. Jess, is a young girl when a concurrence of unfortunate events leaves her alone on the family homestead. After trying to figure out a way to survive, and keep her home intact, she decides to ride out and find her brother. Noah is a man who is wanted by the law, as he is now a thief and a criminal, with a hefty award placed on his capture or his death. Knowing this is impossible as a woman, she disguises herself as a young man, and sets off on her journey. She has one invaluable skill, she is a sharpshooter, shooting better than most men.The harshness of life on the range, is well portrayed, as are the limited choices for women. Jess, is a great observer and she chronicles much about the ironies of life. Her journey will take her to unexpected places, unexpected roles. From the beginning one feels the tension, as more and more danger challenges her resolve. She is a fascinating two dimensional character, definitely one who challenges the stereotype of the times. Those she meets, a few she takes to heart all add a gripping element to the story, as does their stories.The ending is quite violent and who survives is the sum of the novel. Love this resurgence of the Western novel, it is such an integral part of our nation's history. Not without faults though, to be honest, parts of this novel could have been tightened, certainly shortened, in particular the middle section. Still, it conveys a fascinating look at those who live on the fringes of society. One quote in particular, for me, showed how relevant views back then, could still be used now, in countries always at war."No, Harney. It is not revenge that interests me. That man stole my son. I, on the other hand , have pledged myself to his daughter. This is not about your uses for me. This is about the children who come after. This is about the world we build for them, for they are our saviors."ARC from Edelweiss.
    • 5/5
      It is 1885 and Jessilyn Harney finds herself all alone, on her family's homestead. Her father recently died and her older brother, fled years earlier. Jess decides to track her brother down, despite the fact that he has become a notorious outlaw. This one begins with echoes of True Grit, but the story evolves in much different ways and Jess, a talented sharpshooter and gunfighter herself, is a terrific character and it was a joy following along on her dangerous journey. I am glad to see a fresh, well-written, western on the shelves. And yes, there is whiskey too. Lots of it, along with the blood and bullets.
    • 2/5
      A lengthy Western picaresque with a female protagonist disguised as a boy Robin Hood Riders of the Purple Sage (I think) some LGBTQ stuff that seems tacked on. It bored me.
    • 4/5
      This is a book that stays with you. It feels epic. Jessilyn is a character I rooted for and despaired of in equal measures. She is human and flawed but in the ‘wild west’ of America of the late 19th century she manages to find a place for herself. Massive recommendation!
    • 5/5
      Left to tend to her father and family ranch, Jess takes on a dangerous journey in attempt to bring her brother home. On the trail, Jess discovers not only her true calling, but that home is where you are.
      A sweeping and breath-taking tale of the untamed west comes to life as Jess recounts her journey of the search for home and family on a harsh land. I simply loved this wild-west novel.
      -Great read to enjoy a dram of Whiskey and for fans of One Thousand White Women
    • 5/5
      Beautiful prose delivers violence and grit in this story. It was a continuous surprise and a revelation. One of my top three books for the year.
      Sophie Amoss gives a brilliant reading. Truly better in audio format than read from the page, and that’s a rare thing.
    • 2/5
      Generally speaking, novels are either character-driven or advanced by action. This novel refuses to make up its mind and, as a result, delivers a tedious tale with a half-heroine.

      I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review.
    • 5/5
      A struggle to get my copy of this book. Well worth it. The book follows our heroine Jessilyn Harney, from about age 15 to much later in life. Her mother died, soon after she was born, leaving her with Pa and Noah her 5 year old brother. They have a hard life in a soddy, near a lake. Food is plentiful, always something to shoot.Pa and Noah got in a big fight and Noah left home. Jess and Pa kept the ranch together as best they could, always having to go after the cows in the mountains and thickets.Noah went out west and started robbing trains, making himself well known as a bank robber, an outlaw.Pa died alone in the mountains. Jess found that a family of one, a girl at that couldn't make a go of their ranch. She camouflaged her bits and rode out, thinking she was going to bring Noah home to help.Jesse as she now called herself, ends up with a decent job, working for the Governor and being his number one shootist. No one knew she was a girl. She is working here waiting for the Governor's men to bring back some information on Noah.ARC from Goodreads