Paris Trout by pete dexter

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It seems that I ought to bestow more than three stars upon a winner of the National Book Award. And I can fathom the reason behind its victory - the plot and pacing are truly excellent. The characters are distinct and captivating, providing a genuine peek into the life of a small southern town during the first half of the 20th century.

Paris Trout, a respected member of the community, shoots a young black girl without any rhyme or reason. His lawyer encounters great difficulty in persuading him that he has committed any wrongdoing, and the reaction of a significant portion of the town bolsters Trout's perception that he is being unjustly prosecuted. Indeed, there is some subdued disapproval, but that is as far as the sentiment extends.

Meanwhile, Trout plunges deeper into paranoia and madness. One reviewer aptly described it as "bleakly fascinating", and I wholeheartedly concur with that assessment. It is a work that manages to grip the reader despite its rather dark and disturbing subject matter. The vivid portrayal of the town and its inhabitants, along with the complex and troubled psyche of the protagonist, makes it a truly remarkable piece of literature.

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Takros_Knonnar

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I read this article a long time ago.

As time has passed, I don't recall many of the specific details. However, one thing that still sticks in my mind is that I really liked it.

Moreover, there was a killing in the middle that truly shocked me. It was such a powerful moment that it left a lasting impression.

I firmly believe that this article is well worth another look in the future.

By revisiting it, I hope to rediscover those forgotten details and perhaps gain a new perspective on the story.

It could be that with a fresh read, I will uncover new layers of meaning and appreciate it even more than I did the first time.

So, despite the passage of time and the fading of my memory, I am determined to give this article another chance and see what it has to offer.

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somesorta

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Paris Trout is a powerful social drama that unfolds around the heinous murder of a black girl in a small Georgia town shortly after the conclusion of the Second World War.

The captivating aspect is that Trout, a white shopkeeper and loan shark, not only doesn't deny the killing but also lacks any sense of guilt or shame. In his warped view, the girl's death is solely her own doing for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and behaving in a manner that allegedly provoked his violent outburst. He is truly bewildered as to why the case is proceeding to court and firmly anticipates that the proceedings will be stopped or that he will emerge victorious.

Dexter masterfully tells the tale from multiple perspectives, including Paris Trout himself, Rosie Sayers (the tragic victim), Harry Seagraves (Trout's lawyer), Hanna Trout (his wife), and Carl Bonner (Hanna's lawyer). Seagraves, Hanna, and Bonner are all repelled by Trout yet find themselves trapped in his escalating madness.

Trout is a truly hideous character, a grotesque caricature of the Jim Crow era. Dexter deftly uses the changing perceptions of Trout to delve deep into the ingrained racism and social norms of a society torn apart by race and class.

While there are no earth-shattering surprises or twists, the story functions as a morality play, gradually sliding towards a somewhat inevitable conclusion. It makes for an interesting, albeit slightly flat read that loses a bit of its momentum towards the end.

More problematically, from the trial onwards, the black family and the entire black community of Cotton Point vanish entirely from the narrative. This is a telling and deeply troubling omission, as if they have been written out of the fictional account of a heinous crime committed against them.

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Simplicity1511

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Despite its title, this book isn't solely about Paris Trout. Instead, it delves into the lives and interactions of all the people who come into contact with him.

Paris Trout is a well-known figure from start to finish. Even the unexpected actions he takes are completely in line with the behavior that his fellow townspeople have long known, despised, and often respected and feared. As the reader, you quickly come to understand and anticipate Paris's actions, which can be quite terrifying.

The townspeople rationalize Paris's despicable actions by labeling him as "insane." However, they still allow him to operate within their community. They enable him to take advantage of the poorest members without consequence, while simultaneously building a social barrier around him to keep the white people in town largely out of his reach. The book explores the various motives and consequences for those who cross that barrier and interact with him. Some do so out of a sense of obligation, others due to a twist of fate, some because of naivete, others because of a sense of righteousness, and still others because they are intrigued.

You might assume that this is a highly intellectual book, but it is actually written in a simple and straightforward manner. The facts are presented clearly for both the characters and the readers to respond to. It is a thrilling page-turner, full of suspense and not suitable for the faint of heart or young readers. Generally, I don't believe in imposing age limits on who should read works of literary fiction, but in this rare case, it is justified. The author, Pete Dexter, has now made it onto my "must read" list. Once again, I am懊恼 for not discovering the works of this great writer sooner.

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MaryMcKaylaMcCan

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Heh heh! This is one of those stories that I have discovered. Or perhaps, what? I read this however many years ago and I just now remembered that as I purchased another Dexter story, Spooner, from Borders.

I saw the "Paris Trout" there in that copy, so here I am adding it to the list of books of mine. Sue me.

I only glanced at the description. Black/white, etc.

Maybe it reminds me of Too Late the Phalatrope? Is that how you spell it? Alan Patton? Or perhaps Waiting for the Barbarians? That sort of thing. The South.

I recall enjoying this story, being entertained by it. And this "Spooner" by the same man says he, Dexter, is a "national book award winner".

With this one? Paris Trout? I no longer have my copy, alas.

Now if I could only remember some of the other titles I've read. There is that group. I could pose the questions there. Onward upward.

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RenzyBlood

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

In numerous instances of the age-old conflict between Good and Evil, Evil often holds a more captivating allure. It appears that authors are frequently drawn to the challenge of enlightening us about the motives that drive Evil to act as it does. We might emerge from such explorations with an understanding that aligns with our conceptions of human nature. When Evil's thought processes are expounded upon, they may seem plausible, and bad behavior could be propelled by unfortunate circumstances just as much as by other factors. Depending on the extent of the depravity, we might even resort to the familiar "There but for the grace of God" refrain. However, Paris Trout is not such a case. With this one, it's more along the lines of: "There but for the fact that I'm not a nasty, racist sociopath..." Even the omniscient narrator is reluctant to fathom him, and perhaps that's for the best.

Paris Trout is the archetypal bad guy. He murders a 14-year-old black girl in Georgia, incited by little more than his own callousness. What proves to be truly interesting is the town's reaction to the entire affair. As more details are unveiled, there is less and less to like. Even his lawyer, who is the most well-developed character in the book, would concur.

Dexter also penned Deadwood (which later gained fame through HBO) and the screenplay for Mulholland Falls. Any pattern of bleakness might be linked to an incident in the early 80s when he was employed at the Philadelphia Daily News. According to Wikipedia, he was assaulted by an enraged, intoxicated mob armed with baseball bats in response to a column he wrote. I detected some of that in this book.

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koffeekid

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A book-sale find led me to a novel that I had heard about for years. And I ended up devouring it in just a couple of days. Dexter's writing style is completely straightforward. You can clearly sense the journalist within him. However, for a novel of this kind, this direct style works far better than a more allusive one would. The setting of this story is in late 1950's Georgia, which is so distant from the present day. His recall of the tiniest details is thus necessary. He powerfully evokes a gritty place and time. It's as if he transports the reader right into that specific era and location. The vivid descriptions make it easy to picture the scenes and the people. The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. Dexter's ability to bring this bygone era to life through his writing is truly remarkable.

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KillTheFuture42

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is a dark, disturbing, and masterful piece of storytelling. It is truly disturbing, to the extent that one might wonder if it is a recommendable read today. However, I firmly believe it is, yet one must be cautious of its potential impact.

The characters in this work are extremely real, and the storyline is highly believable. This is precisely what makes it so unsettling. The writing style is sparse, yet it is filled with minute details that vividly paint the scene.

I happened to read this book immediately after finishing the novel, “This Is Happiness”. Despite the fact that the two books could not be more different in terms of setting or story, they both manage to wonderfully immerse the reader in a historical and cultural context. I am constantly in awe of the writers who are capable of creating such works.

It is effortless to understand why this book won the National Book Award. Its unique blend of darkness, authenticity, and masterful storytelling truly sets it apart.

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Paris Trout

pete dexter jordi beltrán

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