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Monkey Wrench Gang
Monkey Wrench Gang | Edward Abbey
16 posts | 38 read | 16 to read
Ex-Green Beret George Hayduke has returned from war to find his beloved southwestern desert threatened by industrial development. Joining with Bronx exile and feminist saboteur Bonnie Abzug, wilderness guide and outcast Mormon Seldom Seen Smith, and libertarian billboard torcher Doc Sarvis, M.D., Hayduke is ready to fight the power taking on the strip miners, clear-cutters, and the highway, dam, and bridge builders who are threatening the natural habitat. The Monkey Wrench Gang is on the move and peaceful coexistence be damned!"
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Lcsmcat
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed revisiting in my mind the western places I love, but I just can‘t get into this era/genre of literature. I can love older works and modern works, but the 60s and 70s style just leaves me cold. But at least I can mark this off my list. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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KristiAhlers
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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Pickpick

Floofy and I give this one a pick. Yes, we are seriously going against the grain on this one. What people need to know is this was written back in the '70's and our culture was and is ever-evolving so judging the book by today's standards really isn't fair. With that said this author brings the America Southwest to life and these characters were at times funny and sad. I love how they fought to protect the environment.

SamAnne Abbey was problematic. But reading him in my 20s helped me define my anger over what happened to my home land and helped turn me into a conservation activist. 2y
51 likes1 comment
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Thndrstd
Monkey Wrench Gang | Edward Abbey
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Pickpick

This was a long overdue reread for me. I read it in my early 20‘s, almost 30 years ago. I loved it then and I still do tho now I see more of its problems, i.e. its sexism, its lack of real plot, it being v much of the 70‘s when it was written. Still, it‘s well-written, v funny at times, and I still cheer on the gang and their anarchic ways.

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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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Mehso-so

I don‘t know how I feel about this book. I enjoyed Abbey‘s writing and the sense of place he created for me as someone that has not visited the American Southwest. However, the racism against Native Americans and blatant sexism shown with the single female character is gross. The characters are not likable, and I don‘t get why this book is lauded as “hilarious?” Also, as a chronic rule follower, the sabotage made me really uncomfortable. Haha. 3⭐️

SamAnne Abbey was very racist and sexist. I do appreciate him for his contributions towards inspiring so many to defend wild places. I work on removing dams/restoring rivers — and his writings insprired me when I was younger. But he and other white male “nature” writers made it harder for women and POC to participate in the environmental movement in the 70s and 80s. (edited) 4y
SamAnne There is a short book called Desert Cabal written by a woman activist talking about her complicated feelings about Abbey. Funny and capturing the heartbreak environmental activists were feeling when Trump was elected. (edited) 4y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @SamAnne I can definitely see the inspiring side of his writing! I still plan to read his “Desert Solitaire.” I will check our Desert Cabal as well. Thank you! 4y
See All 6 Comments
SamAnne His essays are far better than his fiction. And you can skip his anti-immigration diatribes. The Journey Home is good as well. 4y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @SamAnne Thanks for the tip. 😂😂 I appreciate it! Also, thank you for the work you do regarding dams/rivers. 🌎 ❤️ 4y
KristiAhlers You kinda need to keep in mind this was written back in 1975 so for the time period sadly this was the norm. 2y
11 likes1 stack add6 comments
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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
Monkey Wrench Gang | Edward Abbey
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Ready for another month of #bookspin and #doublespin. I‘ve kept my original list with new additions in the #7 and #13 spots. Can‘t wait to see what May‘s picks will be!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
7 likes1 comment
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kricheal
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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Panpan
55 likes1 stack add
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kricheal
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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Starting this next on #audible #currentlylistening

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hike.read.repeat
Monkey Wrench Gang | Edward Abbey
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Mehso-so

Te Araroa kilometers tramped: 2487.6 of 3005.3

Days on trail: 109

Books completed on trail: 45

I enjoyed the desert rat renegade adventure aspects of this book. However, I cringed at some of the opinions and comments of the characters. Not sure if I will read the sequel but it made me wanna go back to Utah and Arizona. 🏜🌵#hoopla

BarbaraBB ‘Only‘ 500 km from the finish. Such an achievement! Enjoy them 💕 5y
hike.read.repeat @BarbaraBB soaking up every drop of these last few weeks. I know I‘ll miss it when it‘s over. 5y
BarbaraBB I can imagine! How long until the next long hike?! 5y
hike.read.repeat @BarbaraBB not sure yet. 😬 5y
19 likes1 stack add4 comments
quote
PlantyLibrarian
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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Northeast and above, high on the slopes of the North Woodenshoe Butte, a coyote barked at the fading sunset. The last bark, finely modulated,andante sostenuto, became a prolonged archaic and anarchic howl. The desert wolf, his serenade, his nocturne.

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BookNAround
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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1. They all have their appeal but I probably prefer rural.
2. Lake unless 👇🏼
3. Scuba diving
4. Home unless 👆🏻
5. The Monkey Wrench Gang is a crazy, wild ride set in and around The Grand Canyon and Edward Abbey is a giant of an environmental writer.

#hellothursday @wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for playing! ⛺️ 6y
Trashcanman 👁️👁️ 6y
50 likes2 comments
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SleepyDragon
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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1. Maya Angelou, Douglas Adams, George Harrison, Stephen Colbert, Neil DeGrasse Tyson
2. Ed Abbey. I was an environmentalist before, but his perspective opened my eyes to a whole new level. Because of his writing, I see the desert for the intense, deadly dangerous lover that it is.
3. U do U.
#Tuesdaytidbits @JenlovesJT47

wanderinglynn Great dinner list! 👍🏻 6y
JenlovesJT47 💚💚💚 6y
9 likes2 comments
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GoneFishing
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey

My job is to save the fucking wilderness. I don't know anything else worth saving.

18 likes1 stack add
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she_barks
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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It's bizarre to see this headline while reading The Monkey Wrench Gang, which was pretty much written in protest of this dam more than 40 years ago.

pitterpainter Damn the dams! 💙🌊💦 8y
76 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Carleneishere
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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My thrift store haul today! #bookhaul

britt_brooke Whoa, nice!! 8y
13 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
erincp
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
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Mehso-so

I was so prepared to love this. There are some bright, thoughtful, and silly moments that I appreciated, but the sexism and racism were unexpected and really killed it for me.

But also, we should stop valuing money over the environment. Who cares how much money you have if you have to live in a wasteland? #shortsightednesskills

KCofKaysville I agree. The only Abbey book I'd read before this one was The Brave Cowboy, which I liked a lot. The vulgarity and sexism was off-putting, but I like his values. 4y
2 likes1 comment
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anneofgreentables
the monkey wrench gang | Edward Abbey
Mehso-so

I'm not a huge Edward Abbey fan, and didn't really care for it much, and its only redeeming quality was the ending.