I was given review copies of The Gillespie County Fair from BookishFirst and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
The Gillespie County Fair is the story of a dysfunctional family in small town rural Texas. Carel Geische has a vision to transform his town into a tourist spot, with himself as the recipient of the riches that are sure to come. His wheeling and dealing already cost him one family, but when Carel's prosperous vision comes to a grinding halt, will he lose the other as well? Despite being an opportunist and a shyster, does Carel have any redeeming qualities?
For a relatively short book, The Gillespie County Fair is very dense. The premise and the title point to something other than was on the pages of this book. Carel is a hard guy to like, as his constant deal making and legal wrangling make him appear more like a villain. The title does not make much sense in the larger context of the novel, as the fair itself is barely a blip on its radar. Willow's issues seem out of place, like they were added to the novel as an afterthought. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend The Gillespie County Fair to other readers.
The Gillespie County Fair is the story of a dysfunctional family in small town rural Texas. Carel Geische has a vision to transform his town into a tourist spot, with himself as the recipient of the riches that are sure to come. His wheeling and dealing already cost him one family, but when Carel's prosperous vision comes to a grinding halt, will he lose the other as well? Despite being an opportunist and a shyster, does Carel have any redeeming qualities?
For a relatively short book, The Gillespie County Fair is very dense. The premise and the title point to something other than was on the pages of this book. Carel is a hard guy to like, as his constant deal making and legal wrangling make him appear more like a villain. The title does not make much sense in the larger context of the novel, as the fair itself is barely a blip on its radar. Willow's issues seem out of place, like they were added to the novel as an afterthought. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend The Gillespie County Fair to other readers.