Mr. Texas

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Does rookie Texas legislator Sonny Lamb become Capra’s Mr. Smith or Orwell’s pig?

That’s the principal conflict in Lawrence Wright’s novel, Mr. Texas.  As the innocent West Texas rancher begins to encounter dirty campaign tactics, the vital need for campaign money, and the political quid pro quo, it could go either way.

Skipping among humor, drama and the occasional civics lesson, Wright provides an entertaining and thought-provoking story.  Along the way, he develops intriguing subplots that enrich the overall journey. 

Some of his characters are outrageous, but they are not caricatures.  If you follow politics, you read about these people almost every day.  In fact, Wright masterfully interweaves real political figures and real issues into his novel.  The real characters generally stay on the periphery of events, but close enough to influence the storyline. 

Through his characters, Wright leaves little doubt where he stands on the issues. But it’s not offensive, and at the end of the day, he generally portrays the fictional characters with opposing views as multi-dimensional.  Some of them may be extreme eccentrics, but they’re not entirely bad.  And he treats them with an odd sort of respect.

Mr. Texas is a fascinating novel—enjoyable, but realistic.  So realistic in fact, that if you have any vestige of trust and optimism about American politics, it will take a beating.  But it will survive.

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