Land of the Blind: A Novel
Worth buying if: You enjoy Jess Walter's dark humor and moral ambiguity.
Skip it if: You prefer sentimental or upbeat portrayals of community life.
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780060989286. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
Jess Walter's 2005 novel follows Roy Bascombe, a Montana radio host whose offhand lie launches a chain of crimes, exposing corruption, media absurdity, and the messy limits of heroism in a tight-knit town.
Why this book now
Revisit Walter's sharp satire of media, rumor, and small-town politics—Land of the Blind remains timely as local scandal and tabloid spectacle shape public life.
30-second preview
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy Jess Walter's dark humor and moral ambiguity.
- You read fast-paced small-town thrillers with a media satire edge.
- You prefer sentimental or upbeat portrayals of community life.
- You avoid novels that mix black comedy with crime and bleak outcomes.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Paperback · ISBN-13 9780060989286
Worth buying if: You enjoy Jess Walter's dark humor and moral ambiguity.
Skip it if: You prefer sentimental or upbeat portrayals of community life.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Balanced Moderate time
At about 320 pages, Land of the Blind moves briskly with short scenes and fast dialogue—expect a single-sitting or weekend read for most adult readers.
What stands out here
This HarperCollins edition preserves Walter's sharp dialogue, ironic narration, and the novel's tension between small-town detail and escalating criminal events.
Best way to approach it
Read with attention to Walter's tonal shifts: savor the comic set pieces but track the mounting consequences—best approached as a satire-thriller hybrid.
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Paperback: ISBN-13 9780060989286
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.