Nuns with Shotguns is a humorous memoir set in the early nineties, at a time when Paul Mountain is determined to finish his novel and nothing is going to stop him. Well, a few things might get in the way. A dalliance here, a bender there. Plus the daily grind in Eldora, Colorado, which is more of a languorous ramble than a grind. Still, that lucrative book won’t write itself and bills need to be paid, so Paul pushes ahead, working just enough as needs dictate to maintain his double-ply toilet paper lifestyle and keep his fridge stocked with name-brand beer. He lives with an intelligent woman named Lonnie who is a great partner, but she’s looking for more of a commitment than Paul is willing to give. So when she goes away for a long trip abroad, Paul has even more freedom to enjoy a taste of everything Colorado has to offer. Spending most of his time under the influence of influential writers, intoxicating nature hikes, and a variety of drugs, Mountain’s experiences are detailed with the wide-eyed enthusiasm of a man hungry for the world ahead of him.
Mountain lays everything on the table with candor and bawdiness, resulting in a character study that not every reader will appreciate. However, it’s impossible to deny his magnetic storytelling, his vibrant spirit, and the reckless abandon with which he presents this raucous memoir. The author’s brazen escapades might kindle fond memories for some, could light a fire of fancy in the soul of others, or may simply serve as an amusing tale for those who enjoy wandering aimlessly through life. Self-indulgence seems to be the driving force for Paul as he does what he wants and says how he feels. Political debates, a grueling family wedding, brutal snow storms, and trying to avoid any responsibility whatsoever act as mere filling between sexual encounters and LSD-induced philosophizing. When you find yourself searching for a grand story arc or you feel that the plot meanders, it is then you remember that this memoir is only an incomplete picture of a larger life. With a keen ability to problem-solve with nothing more than a witty retort, Paul and his cavalier attitude muddle through his days with little to concern him, an attitude his dad can’t fathom. “You can’t soar with the eagles in the morning if you hoot with the owls all night.” Will Paul ever learn the lesson behind his father’s favorite overused nugget of wisdom? Excessive and endearing, Nuns with Shotguns is a sarcastic memoir that offers more than a few good laughs.
