Customer Reviews (7)

A FULLY IMAGINED COMING OF AGE TALE

Cock fighting, is a fierce, take-no-prisoners battle.At times, as we discover in Frank Manley's lean, movingly drawn debut novel, coming of age can also be a protean struggle.
Twelve-year-old "Sonny," the only name he is given, lives with his parents in a trailer beneath the shadow of Snake Nation Mountain.His mommalongs to hold him close; hisdaddy, Jake Cantrell,raises fighting cocks for a living, and wants the boy to emulate him.Sonny is so anxious to oblige, to be a man that he views his mother as "...a hundred-pound weight dragging him back.If she had her way, he'd be a girl."
Paying the ultimate compliment, Jake gives Sonny his prize cock, a champion, a three-time winner, and is going to allow the boy to pit him.The cock is a Gray; Sonny names him Lion because his daddy had told him that "Of all the animals in the world, the cock and the lion are the only ones steadfast."
Explaining that "the wilder they are, they better they fight," Jake orders Sonny to stay away from the cocks lest he tame them.Nonetheless, the boy loves Lion, and when he lifts the cock out of his cage to put him in a traveling case, he can't resist holding him in his arms, "pressing him against his chest with both hands the way he would a cat or a puppy."
Surely there can't be many more dismally offensive placesthan the low bleacher banked buildings dotted with sawdust sprinkled pits where gamecocks fight to their deaths.Mr. Manley projects these scenes, as well asthe fierce battles during which the animals gaff one another, with unsparing reality.
As plans are made for Sonny to present Lion,Jake hopes to win big, gaining the sympathy of the crowd with a boy handler.Homer, his momma's alcoholic brother will help them by taking bets.
Thetelling moment comes when Sonny and Lion are on their own in a hogwire fenced pitfacing a cunning snakeskin booted Tennessee handler who twists the gaff each time he pulls it from Lion's body.As Lion's wounds increase in severity, Sonny looks to a referee who refuses to interfere.
Perhaps for Sonny the events of this day willbe a landmark in his life, as that is when he realizes that he is not like his father nor would he wish to be.The beauty and the answer, he discovers,is found in each of us being different.
That's hard won knowledge for the boy and how he expresses this realization is found in the story's disturbing but perhaps inexorable conclusion, leaving the reader at a loss as to whether to smile or weep at Sonny's loss of innocence.
With The Cockfighter Mr. Manley offers a psychologically deep, fully imagined coming-of-age tale rife withpain and possibility.


- Gail Cooke

Nothing "fowl" here - get it?
This was a whole lot different than the DVD of the same name I bought from an African guy on 10th Avenue.

one man's obsession with cockfighting...
Before reading 'Cockfighter' I knew nothing of cockfighting. Now I know more than I thought possible, which I guess is a good thing. :-)Thankfully Charles Willeford's cockfighting education manual is actually a darn good read.

Cockfighting is gruesome, and Willeford does not sanitize the sport in any way.In a rather balanced way he describes cockfighting and cockfighters.The main character in this novel is obsessed in winning the 'super bowl' of cockfighting.He lives for cockfighting.Quite honestly, it's a rather depressing existence.Thankfully Willeford's attention to detail rises just above the boredom level.And the ending is very exciting indeed.

Bottom line: certainly not a book for everyone. Yet it's compassion to this nasty blood sport should be lauded.

Absorbing fictional look into a colorful subculture
You can't really relate to another man's (or woman's) obsession, but "Cockfighter" does a impressive job of drawing the reader into the psyche of Frank Mansfield, the single-minded hero of this prettyintense novel.Frank's goal in life is to win the Cockfighter of the Yearaward, and he's taken a vow not to speak another word until he does so.Inrelating silent Frank's journey, the author takes us on a memorable tripthrough the cockfighting pits of the Southern U.S. and allows us a close-uplook at the rugged, obsessive, fiercely individualistic types who hauntthem.You will learn from this novel virtually everything you couldconceivably wish to know about cockfighting; the details feel absolutelyauthentic.Above all, though, it's a convincing portrait of a man drivenhalf-mad by his private demons.

Still haven't recovered
I read it years ago and I still haven't recovered. When you are through, you will understand how gambling becomes insanity, its rituals imposing a twisted order on full blown psychosis. As a work of first person narrative,it's breathtaking. The other books by the same author will not prepare youfor the intensity of this story. If Jim Thompson is too dark for you, don'tread this: you will be jumping right out of the window. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

the cockfight a casebookone
one thing that you must remember with this book; it is a case book, notwritten in regular story form. however, once you start to read this andrealize that it is written in a thesis/documentary form, it takes on a lifeof it's own. this book is not written to assist the lost 'cocker', but moreor less to share and help shed some light on factual practice, and help topossibly understand the connection; or at least some of it, with ancientand modern man and the true importance of cocckfighting in society, pastand present. i truly did enjoy this book, and highly recommend it to otherswith similar intrests. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

"The Boy was confused."
This quick novel, almost a novella it reads so fast, is a strong telling of a young man/old boy's coming of age by way of a reclamation/realization of himself from his parents, particularly his father.
Jake is Sonny's father, a hard man, embodying the strict emotionless nature of a survivalist and an entrepreneur. For years now Jake has raised and successfully fought chicken's at his Snake Nation Cock Farm, and the time has come for Sonny to take part. Sonny's interest and appreciation for his father and his lifestyle is monumental, though challenged by his mother Lily and ne'er-do-well uncle Homer, whose patheticness Jake ridicules. Sonny is ripe to be an apprentice, and Jake knows it, but throughout the story Sonny begins to recognize that he is not his father, cannot be him...
Manley has created terrifically visible characters, from Sonny and his family to the tramps the guys encounter at the cockfight, to the chickens themselves. On top of which his writing style is smooth and easy, as well as quite poetic and passionate.
A strong story, illumination of a brutal, horrendous sub-cultural sport, and of a family over-wrought by a man, and his son's coming out from under him....

A FULLY IMAGINED COMING-OF-AGE TALE
Cock fightingis a fierce, take-no-prisoners battle.At times, as we discover in Frank Manley's lean, movingly drawn debut novel, coming of age can also be a protean struggle.
Twelve-year-old "Sonny," the only name he is given, lives with his parents in a trailer beneath the shadow of Snake Nation Mountain.His mommalongs to hold him close; hisdaddy, Jake Cantrell,raises fighting cocks for a living, and wants the boy to emulate him.Sonny is so anxious to oblige, to be a man that he views his mother as "...a hundred-pound weight dragging him back.If she had her way, he'd be a girl."
Paying the ultimate compliment, Jake gives Sonny his prize cock, a champion, a three-time winner, and is going to allow the boy to pit him.The cock is a Gray; Sonny names him Lion because his daddy had told him that "Of all the animals in the world, the cock and the lion are the only ones steadfast."
Explaining that "the wilder they are, they better they fight," Jake orders Sonny to stay away from the cocks lest he tame them.Nonetheless, the boy loves Lion, and when he lifts the cock out of his cage to put him in a traveling case, he can't resist holding him in his arms, "pressing him against his chest with both hands the way he would a cat or a puppy."
Surely there can't be many more dismally offensive placesthan the low bleacher banked buildings dotted with sawdust sprinkled pits where gamecocks fight to their deaths.Mr. Manley projects these scenes, as well asthe fierce battles during which the animals gaff one another, with unsparing reality.
As plans are made for Sonny to present Lion,Jake hopes to win big, gaining the sympathy of the crowd with a boy handler.Homer, his momma's alcoholic brother will help them by taking bets.
Thetelling moment comes when Sonny and Lion are on their own in a hogwire fenced pitfacing a cunning snakeskin booted Tennessee handler who twists the gaff each time he pulls it from Lion's body.As Lion's wounds increase in severity, Sonny looks to a referee who refuses to interfere.
Perhaps for Sonny the events of this day willbe a landmark in his life, as that is when he realizes that he is not like his father nor would he wish to be.The beauty and the answer, he discovers,is found in each of us being different.
That's hard won knowledge for the boy and how he expresses this realization is found in the story's disturbing but perhaps inexorable conclusion, leaving the reader at a loss as to whether to smile or weep at Sonny's loss of innocence.
With The Cockfighter Mr. Manley offers a psychologically deep, fully imagined coming-of-age tale rife withpain and possibility.

- Gail Cooke

Manely leaves readers content...until the sequel.
Frank Manely expertly weaves a tale of one family's struggle. The story is that of a thirteen-year-old boy who assists his father who raises roosters. Sonny, the son of Jake and Lily, is finally going to be allowed to handlethe roosters at the cockfights. The big day arrives and the prize rooster,is prepared to fight. However Sonny has made a pecadillo, he did not noticethat Lion has "the white head." This aillment will cause Lion todie. Manely's characters captivate.

A must (NOT) read !
If I could I would give this book -5 stars. Due to it's lack of plot, Character development, or reality. All the characters in this book are so fickle, and extreme in their emotions that you can not help not caring fortheir situation. There is apx. 4 chapters of worthless writing before theplot! Mr. Manely never tells how cocks are raised, what they need, nor doyou get to know the boy or his cock. Finally this book has extremely vulgarrefrences. Usually relating to sex. If you would like a good read I suggestMaya Angelou's "I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS." It isintelligent, smart, intresting, thought provacative and brings you into Ms.Angelou's world. Happy reading !

comment
thank you for your review of "one weak to freedom&quot ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

fowl play
I loved this book. There was so much information about the Appalachian culture and what they do things a certain way. The stories about funerals was so funny that I was laughing out loud. I am so glad I read this book and as going to start the next book right away. You will not be sorry that you read this book.

A well-written debut with a great sense of place
FOWL PLAY is the kind of well-written, satisfying average mystery that keeps us one-a-day mystery addicts going.I would give it a "C+" which is not a bad grade for a first novel; Patricia Tichenor Westfall isbetter at her craft than many much more experienced writers.The fouraspects of this small town mystery that particularly interested me were hersleuth Molly West (an intelligent and believable 50+), her elder characters(especially the admirable and independent 70+ Louella), her never-cutesyuse of Appalachian folk culture (yes, sometimes Molly's husband Ken gets alittle talky, but it's interesting talk and believable coming from a Socprof), and her portrayal of the lives of the working poor.I look forwardto reading future books in this series.

The education I received was as enjoyable as the mystery.
Molly West is an ex-Chicagoan accountant, transplanted to southern Ohio due to her husband's position as a sociology professor at the nearby college. Although they have lived there for fifteen years, they are stillconsidered outsiders by the Appalachian community.Although not anoutstanding mystery, I found myself engrossed in learning more about theAppalachian culture.Ms Westfall enlightens the reader about the ways ofthe hill people. Her next book, Mother of the Bride, also a Molly Westmystery, is even more enjoyable. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The controlled power of his writing and the originality of his thinking about criminal behavior light up Dannie Martin's latest book, an engrossing story about honor and loyalty among pimps, prostitutes, drug dealers, and thieves. On the outskirts of Fresno, California, Vernon Coy raises fighting cocks and lives on the earnings of two hard-working hookers--his wife Paula, and Curly, his older brother Weldon's ladyfriend. Curly is living with Vern and Paula while Weldon finishes a long stretch in Soledad for armed robbery. Weldon is an expert at "working the corners," maintaining prison relationships to minimize violence. One of his allies reveals that Vernon's name has been placed "in the hat," meaning that a tough prison gang called the Dirty White Boys has put out a contract on him as a suspected snitch. How the Coy brothers and their resourceful women defend themselves, aided by a memorable old con called The Stepper, is the meat of Martin's dementedly logical story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

captivating
I just discovered this book and am blown away by the story and its realism.The writing is straightforward and direct.Martin really knows how to turn a phrase.

Realistic and engrossing
Martin has been there and knows how to write about prison life and ex-cons with style and humor.

This book is lousy and unbelievable. Martin can't write.
Martin writes like a third grader.his story is pointless, lacks energy, and is the product of a dull imagination.Why anyone thinks an ex-con is by nature a good storyteller is beyond me.Save your money.

"In the Hat" will NOT disappoint...
Though I had enjoyed 'The Dishwasher', I had held off buying this book due to the descriptions I'd read (**-fightin'?who cares...).When I finally convinced myself to buy it, I became a total believer.Far betterthan his earlier works, "In the Hat" has movie material writtenall over it.

Raw, unremitting and expertly dealt, "In the Hat"is worth every penny.

This is about as real as it gets.
You want to know about prison life?This is a book that you"feel" is right about prisoners and their friends on the outside. The summary of this book does not do it justice.Dannie Martin knows howto tell a story and his characters are extremely well drawn.A great read. ... Read more