Lay Down My Sword and Shield

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

The hero of James Lee Burke's recent best-seller Rain Gods, cousin to lawman Billy Bob Holland and a genuine product of the South, both old and new, Hackberry Holland makes his first appearance in this early gem from "America's best novelist" (The Denver Post).

Against the backdrop of growing civil rights turmoil in a sultry border town, the hard-drinking ex-POW attorney yields to the myriad urgings of his wife, his brother, and his so-called friends to make a bid for a congressional seat - and finds himself embroiled in the seamy world of Texas powerbrokers. And when Hack attempts to overturn an old army buddy's conviction, and crosses paths with a beautiful union organizer who speaks to his heart in a way no one else has, he finds both a new love and a new purpose as he breaks free from the shackles of wealth and expectation to bring justice to the underserved.

©2010 James Lee Burke (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

The Publisher's Summary is Anemic

The Publisher's summary reads like a romance novel when this is is classic James Lee Burke: Intellent story telling based on deep introspection and human nature. Dark poetry in hot, steamy Texas in the time when "Negro" was considered polite language and Hispanics were ignored. A preclude to Rain Gods, it explains many character mysteries and painful memories. Will Patton, the narrator, layers language with meaning and tonality like silk over callouses.

A character study--not a polemic or crime fiction

It is pretty difficult to forgive the self-destructive, often self-righteous subject of this powerful character study, at least until you have reached the promising denouement. Burke never soft pedals the negative aspects of Hackberry's alcoholism and self-hatred. What he does do is expose its roots in the Korean War back story, making us relive with Holland a soul destroying history in a visceral and horrifying series of memories. He does, nonetheless, have redeeming qualities even at his lowest points--a love for horses and a compassion for the helpless which he finds inescapable even while he is single-mindedly gunning the engine in his flight to his own annihilation. And a burning hatred for hypocrisy. In fact, it is this last which fuels his descent as his lingering sense of guilt concerning his final "failure" under North Korean torturers makes it impossible for him to wear a mask of respectability in the here and now.

This is not an easy book to read, and different auditors have obviously come away with widely divergent reactions. As for me, while I don't think this is Burke's finest work (that is a very high bar), I was able to engage deeply with Hack even while desperately wanting to slap him up side the head and lock him in his room. Even at his most repugnant, there was something there worth loving, and most of us have experienced that enough times in our lives to be able to relate. In addition, Burke's brilliantly poetic use of landscape and atmosphere is already in evidence in this early work. He also does a nice job of playing powerfully on the themes of hypocrisy and real cowardice which run throughout his later novels. By the last page, I was very satisfied and even moved.

I would not, however, recommend this as a first read in the Burke oeuvre. I would suggest you get to know the later Hackberry and come back to this as very interesting back story.

Love Mr.Burke and Mr. Patton,"BRAVO"!!!!!

as usual Mr Burke does a fantastic job of making the characters in the land and the ambiance Texas come to life and Mr Patton job of reading this book is beyond marvelous loved it loved it loved it

A Look Back Through a New Lens

I moved to Texas in the fifties, as a high school student. This book makes you think about, what you just sailed through. What a great book club read. A late night and more wine, please to finish the discussion.#sweepsteaks#tagsgiving#historyjived
#eyesopen

TMI!

While a powerful comparison of politics, civil rights and life in the South to a Korean prisoner of war camp, this book becomes one long nightmare. I haven't quite finished it yet, but the prolonged, painfully detailed, and seemingly endless descriptions of the brutality in the camp--down to the constant descriptions of the defecations, starvation, and bloody, bone-crunching horrors was just too much. Most of us have been alive long enough to have heard the gruesome details of such imprisonment, but having it constantly thrown at the reader, gory detail after gory detail for so very much of the book, was not necessary to use it as the metaphor it was.

Will Patton was great in his narration, but the vile nightmares of unimaginable cruelty totally dominated this book, and I never would have chosen it if I knew i would have to share every brutal moment of those continual nightmares.

I imagine it is much like an abused child who goes on to become an abuser. He went through the gutters of humanity in war, only to seek out the gutters of humanity in politics--particularly southern racist politics. And his remedy seemed to be self sedation via alcohol and $3 Mexican whores". I'm hoping an enlightenment will evolve, but so far, the author seems determined to keep us in the gutter with the prisoners.

The approach of comparing the cruelty and inhumanity of racism with the cruelty and inhumanity of war is compelling--but enough is enough. I'm on the fence about this author; and this will make me take a step back for awhile.

Zzzzz

Don't expect this to be as intriguing an interesting as the Dave Robicheaux series. Maybe some people will love this book and will commended for being well written, which it was. Sadly though, the story was so boring at times I literally almost fell asleep. as usual Will Patton narrated the book absolutely perfectly.

A good book, not his best

I love Burke, but I don't think this is quite a good as the others I have listened to. It starts out a little slowly, but then speeds up and has a great ending. Will Patton is terrific as always.

Poetry

I never listen to a James Lee Burke novel just for the pleasure of hearing an exciting story. I listen to it because Burke speaks in poetic pentameter. The story is usually weak. But the voice of the narrator and the beautiful descriptions always keep my attention.

atmospheric, gritty, character- driven

Would you consider the audio edition of Lay Down My Sword and Shield to be better than the print version?

Yes, While I haven't read any of James Lee Burkes books in print it is because the audio versions are so outstanding I don't want to read the print versions. I would be missing out on the great performances of Will Patton and others. More dimensional than reading.

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Will Patton is the stud-muffin of the audio world.

Any additional comments?

Outside Michael Connelly, been a long time since I've come across an author I've had to get through all his books before I can move onto another book or author. I've listened to all James Lee Burkes books exclusively as audiobooks. Wouldn't have it any other way. Almost all of the performances are great but Will Patton's are exceptional. The listening experience is a cross between listening to great old time radio mystery and being in the theater. I can at one and the same time visualize the scenes and put myself in their midst. This is unique to the audiobook experience.

Burke and Patton-A Winner

Anyone that loves the Dave Robicheaux novels will love these too. Hackberry Holland is the gruff, hard drinking character that reminds me of Dave’s side kick, Clete. I look forward to the rest of the series.