Marc Hess

The Gillespie County Fair is an interesting story of the demise of the old ways, customs and structure of a long standing way of traditional rural living. Conversely, the story is also about the rise of a new set of customs and beliefs that will now be structured into a completely new and different way of living. The characters are an ensemble of two intermarried families, thus tied to each other regardless of their feelings or convictions about the situation they live in every day. The tension is palpable yet subtle. I felt such a great sadness for all of these characters. Destroyed by forces beyond their control, which changes everything about everything forever. Honestly, it's profoundly heartbreaking when you come to understand the ramifications for these families. The story is definitely contemplative and disheartening.… (más)

The Gillespie County Fair is an interesting story of the demise of the old ways, customs and structure of a long standing way of traditional rural living. Conversely, the story is also about the rise of a new set of customs and beliefs that will now be structured into a completely new and different way of living. The characters are an ensemble of two intermarried families, thus they are tied to each other regardless of their feelings or convictions about the situation they live in every day. The tension is palpable yet subtle. I felt such a great sadness for all of these characters. Destroyed by forces beyond their control, which changes everything about everything forever. Honestly, it's profoundly heartbreaking when you come to understand the ramifications for these families. The story is definitely contemplative and disheartening.… (más)

The Gillespie County Fair is an interesting story of the demise of the old ways, customs and structure of a long standing way of traditional rural living. Conversely, the story is also about the rise of a new set of customs and beliefs that will now be structured into a completely new and different way of living. The characters are an ensemble of two intermarried families, thus tied to each other regardless of their feelings or convictions about the situation they live in every day. The tension is palpable yet subtle. I felt such a great sadness for all of these characters. Destroyed by forces beyond their control, which changes everything about everything forever. Honestly, it's profoundly heartbreaking when you come to understand the ramifications for these families.… (más)

The Gillespie County Fair transports readers into a small Texas town ripe with citizens fighting to keep it's German roots. Carel specifically seems hell-bent on preserving historical appeal while using his every resource to make money off of it's people. But, when the past finally catches up will Carel and all those in his web remain unaffected?

Told in alternating perspectives of several "key" individuals this book is at times confusing and conversely frustrating. There are few "chapter" breaks within this read, meaning perspectives are flipping from paragraph to paragraph. The end reveal and only really excitement of the book is hidden in the irrelevancies of some of the characters' development making the read rather slow to engage.

*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.… (más)