Thin Blue Smoke

By Doug Worgul

Book Overview

An epic American redemption tale about love and loss, hope and despair, God and whiskey, barbecue and the blues. LaVerne Williams is a ruined ex-big league ballplayer, an ex-felon with an attitude problem, and the owner of a barbecue joint he has to run. Ferguson Glen is an Episcopal priest, a fading literary star with a drinking problem, and a past he is running from. A.B. Clayton and Sammy Merzeti are two lost souls in need of love, understanding, and another cigarette. Hilarious and heart-rending, sacred and profane, this book marks the emergence of a vital new voice in American fiction.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1942280114
• ISBN13: 9781942280118
• Release Date: June 2015
• Publisher: Conundrum Press
• Length: 462 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Great story!

I loved this book. I read a lot of books and this is one of my favorites. I will be telling everyone I know to get a copy. I hope there will be another book by this author. I didn't want this one to end.

Terrific!

I love this book; the characters are terrific. The story revolves around a barbecue joint in Kansas City, and the odd assortment of people who work or eat there. On the surface, they have nothing in common other than their appreciation of fine barbecue. But as the story evolves, it's clear that the customers are a family of sorts and like family, they bicker and like family, they pitch in and help one another when necessary. The characters are complex and have stayed with me long after I finished the book. Many of them struggle with personal failures as well as racism and religious issues. The book never goes overboard with these issues; rather, the author has perfect timing and knows when enough is enough. He also has perfect timing when it comes to humor. The book is funny in all the right places. There's nothing thin about this book - it's rich with complicated characters.

Step on in and feel at home...

When finished you will feel you have taken on new family members. While reading you actually can see faces and feel their emotions. A.B. Clayton (one of the main characters)was a young man I would have adopted by the time I was done. An expansive look at religion, love, hate, laughter and of course BBQ. Get it now, it will be a book you read more than once.

Characterization 101

Thin Blue Smoke should be required reading for writing students. The characters are so well developed, you feel as though you really know them--(and like most of them, warts and all). Weeks after finishing the book, I find myself thinking about the characters and wondering what they're up to. Bravo, Mr. Worgul.

Savory

Colorful, vivid characters. Writing so descriptive you can almost taste the BBQ. And the story's got meat on its bones. My favorite of '09 so far.