The End of Vandalism

By: Tom Drury

Narrated by: Lloyd James

Ten years ago, Tom Drury's groundbreaking debut, The End of Vandalism, was serialized in the New Yorker, was compared to the work of Sherwood Anderson and William Faulkner by USA Today, and was named a Best Book of the Year in multiple publications.

Welcome to Grouse County - a fictional Midwest that is at once familiar and amusingly eccentric - where a thief vacuums the church before stealing the chalice, a lonely woman paints her toenails in a drafty farmhouse, and a sleepless man watches his restless bride scatter their bills beneath the stars. At the heart of The End of Vandalism is an unforgettable love triangle set off by a crime: Sheriff Dan Norman arrests Tiny Darling for vandalizing an anti-vandalism dance and then marries the culprit's ex-wife Louise. So Tiny loses Louise, Louise loses her sense of self, and the three find themselves on an epic journey. At turns hilarious and heartbreaking, The End of Vandalism is a radiant novel about the beauty and ache of modern life.

©2013 Tom Drury (P)2013 AudioGO

INTERESTING

This isn’t exactly a “normal” type of book. It does not really have a plot to it. But it will hold your interest and keep you going back to it. It is about life, real life. It has tense moments. Funny, stupid moments, endearing moments. There is sadness that will break your heart and fear for a young couple in dire circumstances. It didn’t seem to end so much, more the story just stopped. I wish there was more, if we are lucky there might be a sequel to this book. In the meantime we can imagine the future of these people lives however we want, they seem so real. I really enjoyed this story.

Actually I loved it.

I loved the pace and the book .
I thought I would hate it. But I gave it a chance and I’m sooo glad I did!

Small town, small lives

This was a strange little gem of a book that I enjoyed greatly though I didn't expect to. the characterizations were so well-rounded and so surprisingly funny. I could relate and it reminded me a lot of growing up in West Texas.

Women do not sound like that.

The charactors were wonderful, and I look forward to returning to them. Someone, please tell Lloyd James that while he has an admirable range of male voices, every time he attempts a woman's voice he sounds like Blanche Devereaux on helium. Ugh!

Thoroughly Excellent

I highly recommend this. The story is poetic and endearing. It reinforces one’s insight and love of the Midwest, at times feeling familiar and also manages to lift one’s consciousness. The performance is spot on and fantastic.