OSTRICH

A second comic novel from the author of Crosswinds (not reviewed), this one a bravura romp set on the Nevada sheep ranch of a put-upon Basque papa.

Old Sabine Eckleberry (who resembles a comic Big Daddy and as much as a King Lear) is devoted to red meat, cheap stogies, and Sangre de Toro wine. Meanwhile, he’s beset by three bossy daughters and a sensuous spouse; in addition to the Sabine women, there’s good-natured, feckless son VJ. Supporting players include VJ’s tubby pal Ev, a couple of feminists, a priapic old colonel, and a nubile neighbor sporting a parrot, along with a number of other personable animals. In his quest to find something—perhaps himself—VJ, a natural-born shepherd who’s already launched and fumbled several foolish enterprises (not fully elucidated), proposes raising ostriches on the family ranch. A small point of edification for those of us who didn’t know: the big feral fowl stink real bad, and they poop a lot, too. (Thomas paints a potent picture of the mighty avian dung heaps.) VJ brings a smelly incubating ostrich egg back to the ranch just in time for Daddy’s 72nd birthday festivities. Daddy, incidentally, has recently acquired several sweet government-surplus donkeys. Dogs, sheep, and grandchildren are underfoot. Misunderstanding! Contretemps! Happily, love blooms: Sabine’s truly wonderful favorite daughter finds romance with Ev. VJ and the full-bosomed neighbor form an attachment. Daddy and Mamma renew their smoldering passion. The old colonel and the newly hatched ostrich chick fall in mutual love. All the loose ends are knotted quite neatly, as we knew they would be. Even the livestock are destined to live happily ever after in this comic western. It’s neatly plotted, with carefully drawn characters and considerable insight into human and animal motivation.

Deft entertainment, with a raffish cast enacting an old-fashioned scenario.