Bruce Holbert takes a shot of ‘Whiskey’ in latest novel set in Eastern Washington

Bruce Holbert - Washington State Book Award Winner and "lyrical, soulful chronicler of our ever-changing West" talked with the Spokesman Review about his new novel, WHISKEY.Here's an excerpt from the interview:

Bruce Holbert knows his books have a reputation for violence and darkness.When reminded that his previous book, the Washington Book Award-winning novel “The Hour of Lead,” featured a character who chopped his own leg off with an ax – intentionally, Holbert smiled.“I’m not saying it’s undeserved.”There’s violence, too, in his latest book, “Whiskey,” which comes out Tuesday from Farrar Straus Giroux. But in Holbert’s mind, it’s violence of a different variety.“The violence in this book is more emotional violence, and the darkness is more dark comedy,” said Holbert, 58, who recently retired from Mt. Spokane High School after a 30-year teaching career. “These two guys spend a lot of time whistling past the graveyard. They know they’re in a screwed-up situation and they don’t have any signposts out. … I think this book is pretty funny.”

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