Read Recently: “Waterloo” by Karen Olsson
Title: “Waterloo”
Author: Karen Olsson.
Synopsis: A colorful group of people leading desultory yet redeeming lives in the college town of Waterloo, the former name of Austin, Texas.
Backstory: Picked up at the 2005 Texas Book Festival where I sat on a panel with the author. I read it in anticipation of heading back to Austin for my annual trip to South by Southwest.
Notes: Takes a minute to get moving but when it does, reads like a mellow Tales of the City wearing cowboy books.
Verdict: Another sandwich book. It’s a little scattered at times and the controversy it thinks it’s building to is a mirage. But it’s characters are loveable, its pacing steady and smart and it’s affection for Austin thick and generous. Since I lived there for three years and feel much the same way, I liked Karen Olsson’s novel a good bit.