Funny reference to Bluegrass in mystery novel
I'm working my way through a crime series by British writer, Mark Billingham. The policeman/hero loves gritty older American country music, especially Johnny Cash. In "The Burning Girl" from 2004, the hero is trying to shut down for the night.
"Reaching across for his Walkman, he pulled on the headphones and pressed play: The Mountain, Steve Earle's 1999 collaboration with the Del McCoury Band. He rubbed at the tightness in his chest, deciding that it almost certainly was indigestion.
"It was impossible to stay down for too long, listening to bluegrass."
This last line is actually a bit ambiguous as far as its spirit. Is he saying that it was impossible for the food to stay down for too long, or for his spirit to stay down for too long. Either way, I was surprised and intrigued to see a reference to Del and to Bluegrass!
Doug Brock
2018 Kimble 2 point (#259), Eastman MD315, Eastman MDA315, some guitars, banjos, and fiddles
Bookmarks