A story of militant environmentalism,
rampant mayhem, arson, and sabotage through the deserts of Utah, The Monkey
Wrench Gang brings together four colorful characters and puts them through
different acts of destruction. "Seldom Seen" Smith, a Mormon raftsman, meets Doc
Sarvis, an eccentric doctor and wealthy surgeon, and his girlfriend Bonnie
Abbzug, his young assistant from the Bronx. Oh, and there's Hayduke, the insane
retired Green Beret. All four of them come together to destroy the menace to the
American Southwest - industrialization and development of the desert,
culminating in a plan to blow up a dam.
I think
what I liked the most about The Monkey Wrench Gang, by Edward Abbey, aside from its bizarre sense
of humor and its anarchist sensibilities, were the strange idiosyncrasies of its
characters. Although they're environmentalists, they litter, swear, and leave
the ends of their cigarettes and their beer cans on the sides of the road. They
all drive huge cars, and Hayduke's vehicle of choice is a gigantic
four-wheel-drive jeep. This is the type of book that would be banned at schools.
None of these characters are good role models at all. Their only redeeming
characteristic is their shared concern for the environment, which admittedly
manifests itself in the destruction of public property.
Reviewed by Adrian G., Grade 12
Grandview Library
No comments:
Post a Comment