A brutal book. Couldn't turn away from it, breathtakingly exciting, yet absolutely graphically horrible. The oddest part of this was reading it and knowing that someone else finished it and thought, "yes, I'd like to see all of this as a full movie, I would like to see these things appear to happen to real people."
Plot aside, Bill's writing is as magnificent here as it was in [b:Crimes in Southern Indiana|17553491|Crimes in Southern Indiana|Frank Bill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386577938l/17553491._SY75_.jpg|15624459]. His description of action is so apt, efficient, visceral. And his pacing--something happens on every single page of this book, which is a better incentive to keep reading than most. I think it's the setting he chooses, though, that makes this come alive. It's all believable in the rural middle of the country, the swampy humid atmosphere, the vital and unwashed color of his places and people. I don't know if it's realistic per se--I doubt there is a real donnybrook--but his setting and his story mesh so intimately that the book is immeasurably improved by it.
Just like with his book of stories, I would just about die before I'd recommend this to anyone, but damn, what a ride. ( )

(I did consider writing Mr. Bill. I initially typed that. I don't reflect enough on the virtues of Play-Doh.)

Dear Frank Bill,

I suppose it preferable to trace my position broadly, at least in the beginning. You see, I am reluctant to admit most positions. Life is too exceptional for specifics. My admission tends to dovetail with my respect for literature. Maybe that respect should be a love. Accuse me of indecent infatuations with books. Go ahead. One of the redeeming aspects of literature for me personally is the exercise of empathy. Anyone else's actions and world views can be sensible, if only momentarily through this wealth of language. I sort of need that.

Your novel Donnybrook is populated with feral humans who offer incessant violence to one another. The only context and revealed motivation is a vague idea of the "economy" and the failure of American Promise. I would find these portraits of Southern Indiana depravity fascinating if I did not live in Southern Indiana. I felt your scratching through torture lore, sorting examples of excess to sate what you imagine as a morbid core for your inbred realm of horrors. I am not discounting the existence of such here. Shit, since your collection of stories was published, a serial killer has been arrested here in New Albany and a couple were later arrested for prostituting their teenage daughter in exchange for drugs. That said, I don't understand your aesthetic.

Oh and citing musical artists might work for Ian Rankin, but it sucks here. By "here" I mean your novel not Southern Indiana. Well it does suck in Southern Indiana but Donnybrook even more so. So, there. ( )

Raw, gritty, and primal, this novel of madness, violence, money, and drugs was brought beautifully to life via audiobook. Seriously, the narrator was spot on and his inflections, accents, and gravely voice added to the story. Donnybrook follows a cast of characters in the south as they make their way to southern Indiana to fight in a massive bare-knuckle fighting match to fight, sell drugs, or seek revenge. No character is without his or her flaws and violence is streaked throughout the pages. If you're going to read this, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook to get the full experience. Excellent! ( )

Kind of like a Guy Ritchie movie - lots of flash, not a lot of substance and character development. It basically reads like a graphic novel with a fast paced story and not a lot of substance. If you like this genre, Donald Ray Pollock is much much better. ( )

Ultra violent super hillbillies make their way to Donnybrook, a sort of Bonnaroo for meth addled criminals. The main attraction at Donnybrook is the "winner take all" bare knuckle boxing tournament. Beautifully written, but marred by relentless over the top violence and baffling extraneous characters (a mysterious Chinese assassin/martial arts guru; a hippie prophet). Can't wait for part two. ( )