Spanish Fly

Ferguson's novel is a masterpiece of storytelling well tied together from beginning to end and one that's hard to put down once you start. Fiction it may be but it is historically accurate and reflects the time of the depression and life in rural American in the days of Roosevelt and the ABC work plan he implemented during the Great Depression. Great characters depicted in the story and while the schemes of the con artists are a bit hard to follow by times it was well worth the read.

The book is repetitive and dull. The characters seem to sleep-walk thru their grifts. They are presented in an unlovable way, very little depth. I read 419 and thought it absolutely flawless so to say I am disappointed in this book is an understatement

I wanted this CD for a gift after a friend listened to the talking book edition of Spanish Fly. On his recommendation, I read the print edition and enjoyed the book very much. The soundtrack was very original…..I was expecting background music. Both the gif-tee and I had some good laughs during a rather boring drive and I certainly was entertained by the musical take-off additions to the characters' escapades. Definitely a great "off the wall' CD

This is just a very funny, clever and well written book. Treat yourself.

Really, I was amazed when I read Spanish Fly. I had already read two of Ferguson's jokey books about Canadians, and while they were enjoyable, I had him down as a lightweight.I was dead wrong. I was absolutely astonished by Spanish Fly. The intricacy of the plot, the fineness of the writing, the level of research that must have been required and the believable, nuanced, deftly-turned characters left me amazed. I had no idea Ferguson had this sort of thing in him. This is worthy of Richler or Atwood or Robertson Davies (which might actually make Ferguson shudder!). It's highly accomplished storytelling and writing. The scams pulled by the characters and the way that the characters play off of each other leads page by delicious page to the inevitable showdown.I have not yet read 419, but if he won the Giller for that and not this, it must be something else again.

i just stumbled upon Ferguson's early work "Happiness" in a second hand book shop, and really enjoyed it. It was witty, populated with characters that were suitably flawed and human, and a plot that kept you reading.His latest is even better - with a wonderfully crafted backdrop of the late 1930's in the dust-bowl hard scramble U.S. Ferguson creates a foreshadowing of a dark cloud of a coming war, through small clips of events in Europe. (Ferguson is slightly off on some historical details in these snippets, but they still are used to good effect).Essentially a story of a small town young man who meets with a pair of grifters and discovers much about life, human nature and himself.An absolute pleasure to read!Marc L.

Spanish fly is a well written book. A very good story.reminds me of el Doctorow. I wish it was available in ebooks for easier reading

A beautifully written, compelling novel about con artists in the 1930s and 40s. The historical research is thorough and fascinatingly presented as part of the narrative, and the characters sympathetically drawn, especially the narrator, who has the brain but not the heart of a con man - a young man of many talents, but no pretensions. One of the most compelling elements of the book is the description of the various types of con tricks, but it is the people playing them who stay with you. The sense of place is strong too: you can almost smell the dust of the poor towns of the southern United States in the mid-20th century. Very highly recommended: a real pleasure.

Quite different from the run-of-the-mill novels. Certainly recommend this book to those who think out of the box sometimes...and are not too conventional.

Everyone should read this book. This edition is printed in America but in England the title is The Hustle. One of his best books.