Rating: 
Summary: Just Tragic
Review: Set in Missouri this is the story of Shug Akins, a 13-year-old boy and the tough life he leads with Glenda his alcoholic mother and Red, her cruel boyfriend. Shug's life is far from normal and even further from ideal. The only person in the world who loves Shug is his mother, but although she tries to protect him with sweet words of encouragement - referring to him as her Sweet Mister - Red's hatred and meanness digs its way through to him.Although Red hates Shug, he is not above using him for his criminal ventures. His favourite is making Shug break into people's houses to steal their prescription drugs. When Red's around, Shug and Glenda huddle together in fear, walking on eggshells for fear of setting him off. When Red's not around Shug pleads with Glenda to leave Red and end their misery, but Glenda needs a man around and just can't bring herself to leave. It's not until a stranger enters the scene, giving Glenda the hope that she may be able to escape Red's clutches that the story, and Shug's life, is thrown into utter chaos. The result is violent, taking a terrible toll on the tiny family. This is an exquisitely told story that is as striking in its tragedy as it is in the perfect imagery that Woodrell's prose evokes. The tragedy in the story lies in the confusion experienced by Shug, thanks to his exclusive exposure to his dysfunctional family. He sees things that no 13-year-old child should see and tries things that no child should use. Woodrell has written a book that I found unputdownable. The characters aren't particularly likable in fact, some of them are very hateable, but the emotion is perfectly captured, the story is thought provoking and leaves you feeling sadly shocked by the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Red, what an ...
Review: The Death of Sweet Mister is a very well written novel. Red has to be one of the biggest [villians] in literary history. There was no problem, specifically with Death of Sweet Mister. I would just say that it lacked drama when drama was most called for, and the in general [feel] of it all lacked the southern gothic feel perhaps woodrell was going for. A good read, albeit not an extrodinary one.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing
Review: This book is excellent. A short book and a quick read, it packs a wallop. Woodrell is good, but this book was a real surprise. One of the best books I've read in a while.
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