The Milagro Beanfield War
by John Nichols

Read July-August 2007
Copy borrowed from Ramsey County Public Library
Essay written October 6th, 2007

I requested this one shortly after deciding never to go to the Maplewood library against except in emergencies. Through the Ramsey County Library website, I requested that the first available copy of this be sent to my home library, the White Bear Lake branch. Fascinating stuff, I know.

Extraordinary. The Milagro Beanfield War was a romp. I started reading it once before, like in February or March, but at the time it was winter and I love winter and wasn't in the mood for the hot, dry, dusty climate of New Mexico. I think I only read the first few pages. Plus, it seemed pretty dense. Loads of characters foisted on you right away. I wasn't ready for it.

So I gave it the old college try again this summer and was blown away. Wonderfully vivid in its characterization of this poor village and the captivating people populating it. The mounting tension throughout the book sort of reaches a non-climax in the last hundred pages though. Nothing happens. But that didn't take away from the wonderful ride that it was.

In the Afterword or Postlogue or whatever he called it, twenty years later, John Nichols laments how well known he is for this book even though he doesn't consider it his best. I haven't read anything else by him so I can't judge, but it would indeed be very hard to top this. I'm sure his later stuff is more technically sound and methodically precise, but I don't think that matters. He himself explained the passion he poured into writing this book. I think that's what makes the difference. He tapped into some transcendental resource of great writing that maybe he'll never be able to duplicate, no matter how hard he tries for the rest of his life. It's not a matter of trying, it's a matter of doing. A convergence of factors. The Milagro Beanfield War was magic.

Reading this I was excited about seeing the movie. But now I'm not so sure. There's no way it can match the imagery and complexity of the novel. It will only be disappointing. So I'll wait a while. Perhaps when the sharp memory of the book fades the movie will be acceptable. For now though, I'll hold off. Robert Redford or no Robert Redford.

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