The Lost Get-Back Boogie by James Lee Burke (1986)
From the author's website:
"Korean War veteran Iry Paret is trying to put the past behind him, having just been released from the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola after serving time for manslaughter. He heads west to begin a new life in Montana on the family ranch of Buddy Riordan, a friend from prison. Life in Montana, however, is far from serene. Buddy's father is waging a one-man campaign to shut down the local pulp mill that is devastating the environment. Tensions are growing, and so is the level of power the Riordans and Iry are up against. Meanwhile, Iry begins falling for Buddy's estranged wife. and soon his loyalty to his friend ass well as his determination to stay on the straight and narrow are put to the test."
The Lost Get-Back Boogie -- the title comes from the name of a song that Iry, a country musician, has been trying unsuccessfully to write ever since he had been imprisoned -- marked a turning point in Burke's not-quite fledgling career. The author had gone 11 years without having one of his books printed in hardback, and the manuscript had been rejected 111 times. When the novel was finally printed by Kouisiana State University Press it was critically acclaimed and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. From that point, recognition and success followed, and in the following year, Burke published his first novel in a series of wildly successful books about Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux.
The Lost Get-Back Boogie has everything on has come to expect from Burke. Lyrical, haunting prose. An unabashed love for the beauty of nature, both in Louisiana and Montana. A deep appreciation of the music of the people. A sympathetic look at society's underdogs, unable to fight against (or to even understand) the hold the powerful have over them. The pride and determination of people caught in society's trap, and sometimes caught in the trap of alcohol and drugs. Flawed characters trying to do right and sometimes succeeding. The casual and unthinking violence and degradation that can be part and parcel of the justice system. But through it all, there is hope of a light at the end of the tunnel of a difficult and problematic journey.
Iry Paret is a person damaged by his own pride and arrogance, and damaged further by a difficult childhood, a war that seemed to suck the humanity out of him, and a crime that did not reflect his true nature, and finally by this betrayal of his best friend. Nonetheless, his nobility shines through, as does James Lee Burke's nobility.
And in the end, we can hope that Iry's song, 'The Lost Get-Back Boogie" may finally get written.
Highly recommended.
First or second of his I read. I'd recommend it, too.
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