drop city

a book coming recommended from one of those 1001 list things
from an author touted as 'one of america's most valuable storytellers'
but that is on the cover of the book so to be taken with a grain of slight
t c boyle being the author in question - or thomas coraghessan boyle
this book is a back to basics tale about life on the land
it starts out on a hippy commune in california in 1970
giving an almost nostalgic insight to life in those times
free sex, drugs aplenty, music, apathy, eeking out an existence
take it as it comes, no rules, no expectations, no demands
in parallel there is also a couple living in deep alaska
also back to basics and at the mercy of the weather
meaning life has to be very structured and planned
summer spent earning cash from hunting and trapping
growing vegetables, catching fish, preserving food
winter spent in lockdown in survival mode
things get out of hand on the hippy commune
the author seems to enjoy documenting a decline in ideals
meaning jealousy, possessiveness, envy, distrust take their toll
the straights seem intent on destroying their lifestyle
or at least forcing them out so they flee the bulldozers
and head north to alaska where their leader has a claim on some land
which of course is next to the couple living in blissful isolation
and so we are witness to a serious clash of cultures
hippies being unheard of and not welcome in redneck alaska
but they are here to stay and some friendships are formed
demonstrating that character traits override ideals
so a hippy with bad scrupples can befriend a like-minded redneck
and an isolated housewife can enjoy the company of other women
i enjoyed the way the book was set up to this point
but towards the end i was looking forward to a conclusion
and the more it went on the more i felt uncomfortable about it
it kind of dawned on me (eventually) what the author's intent was
best summed up by suggesting he would be a g w bush supporter
or at least a member of the national rifle association
guns are never far from the action in outback alaska
animals are purely there for killing, eating and/or stripping
a woman's role is to be housekeeper, cook, subservient
minority groups to be sneered on and not helped
free sex leading to an outbreak of an std amongst the hippies
except for the devoted couple who befriend the local man/wife
who become expectant parents along the way
the token african americans are dealt with ruthlessly
their names appropriated for new dogs in the sled team
the hippy leader abandons the flock when the going gets tough
just too many such happenings at the end of this book
which led to a feeling of relief when it finally comes to an end
no big climax - certainly no encouragement for alternative lifestyles
much better to give in to a traditional way of life
him - armed to the teeth and out there taking them down
her - at home alone, baking bread and getting pregnant
makes you wonder what really killed the hippy culture