Missy

By Chris Hannan

Book Overview

When Dol McQueen is given some valuable stolen goods to stash, the nineteen-year-old prostitute and opium user grabs the chance to start a new life and takes off with the loot--and all hell in pursuit. Her flight through the western wilderness of 1860s America is beset by mule thieves, salt flats, halfsavage kids, and her own addiction. But she is driven forward on this mad odyssey by a desperate need to save her mother from self destruction. A very modern heroine, Dol McQueen is a captivating narrator who tells her shattering story with immense comic verve and an irresistible frankness. A poetic, emotionally potent story about women, men, drugs, and the American West, Missy is a thoroughly exhilarating debut novel.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312428820
• ISBN13: 9780312428822
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

take a chance on missy

the book was kind of a struggle to get into and i can't even say i started to like it until half way through---but by the end of the book---it just all comes together and i think it is a very originl and rewarding story. the female heroine is unlike any i have met before--totally original---good job, chris!

We got ourselves a winner here, ladies & gents

Thoroughly delightful voice narrating this story which is so alive and interesting it's difficult to put down. Dol's heart and soul suffuse this book in ways that are least likely, ridiculously endearing and even educational. I expect there's hefty measures of authenticity and verisimilitude herein which both heightens the story and brings it down to earth. At the same time, there's appreciation for nature, not only of people but of the land and its features which can be, er, wild. Yeah, I love this book; it's a treat and more.

Every sentence is a gift

Man, this guy can turn a phrase. It's always impressive when a writer is able to completely voice a character (especially of the opposite sex) believably. But here, it's so much more than just that. Dol is a fascinating character, and every sentence that she spews forth has layers of meaning. The plot is fast-paced, and the story is told with great economy, and yet the pay-off is complete and totally satisfying.