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The End of Vandalism
The End of Vandalism: A Novel | Tom Drury
5 posts | 8 read | 10 to read
Ten years ago, Tom Drury's groundbreaking debut, The End of Vandalism, was serialized in The New Yorker, was compared to the work of Sherwood Anderson and William Faulkner by USA Today, and was named a Best Book of the Year in multiple publications. Now, appearing simultaneously with his first new novel in six years, Drury's debut is back in print.Welcome to Grouse County a fictional Midwest that is at once familiar and amusingly eccentric where a thief vacuums the church before stealing the chalice, a lonely woman paints her toenails in a drafty farmhouse, and a sleepless man watches his restless bride scatter their bills beneath the stars. At the heart of The End of Vandalism is an unforgettable love triangle set off by a crime: Sheriff Dan Norman arrests Tiny Darling for vandalizing an antivandalism dance and then marries the culprit's ex-wife Louise. So Tiny loses Louise, Louise loses her sense of self, and the three find themselves on an epic journey.At turns hilarious and heart-breaking, The End of Vandalism is a radiant novel about the beauty and ache of modern life.
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Magpiegem
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Yesterday I spent a wonderful hour strolling Much Ado books in Alfriston. We had a childfree day and when hubby asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, this was it. I went in with one aim. Find books I have never heard of. And I was successful! Chatting to the owner, he was so happy I had found the Drury (his favourite book of last year) without handselling it to me that he gave it to me as a birthday gift!! How wonderful is that!! 📚 🎂 💗

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DrexEdit
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Pickpick

Yes! Lots of good books in read October. 5 ⭐ for The End of Vandalism! About a small midwestern town (I place it in northeast IA) where nothing much seems to happen while people go about living their lives. Those lives encompass humor & passion & tragedy & redemption. The humor is delivered straight in what I like to call “midwestern dry.“ The action starts at the local high school where The End to Vandalism dance is being held to raise funds.

DrexEdit Tiny Darling, local ne‘er-do-well, vandalizes the End of Vandalism display. Some people find a clean, white fence or the blank side of a building too tempting. What ensues is like a river of events, one thing happens that leads to the next thing happening. Some are good, some are bad. A lot like life. I cared about these characters and kept reading to find out how they all turned out in the end. Happy Note: There's a sequel! 3y
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DrexEdit
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One fall they held the blood drive in the fire barn at Grafton. Sheriff Dan Norman was there mainly as a gesture of good will, but one of the nurses didn't make it, so Dan agreed to place the gauze in the crook of everyone's arm. "And I thank you," he would say.

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@ShyBookOwl

DrexEdit I threw in a couple of extra sentences for good measure. I'm really enjoying this story set in small town Midwest somewhere (it's Iowa, but fictional Iowa). 3y
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suvata
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Panpan

2 of 5 stars = It was ok

What in the name of God did I just read?!?

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Skybariline
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Pickpick

This novel provides good insight into contemporary life in small midwestern American communities. The quirky characters also have depth that provides insight into the meaning of mundane daily occurrences.