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Title: Ironweed by William J. Kennedy ISBN: 0-14-007020-6 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: August, 1989 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.07 (44 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: AP English
Comment: Ironweed by WIlliam Kennedy won an abundance of awards and is on the list of the best 100 books ever written. Many are most likely surprised of the excitement over this book because of the difficulty Kennedy had trying to publish it. Kennedy immortalized the life of Albany in the 1930's, bringing unusual attention to all.
In the novel it discusses survival on an ordinary man whose bad luck brings him to rock bottom causing him to discover in himself on things he can not understand. During Francis Phelan's life he killed a scab driver with a rock, his infant son by holding him by the diaper and accidentally dropping him, and killing an insane bum for self defense.
Throughout the book the people he killed and others are ghost interacting with Francis as in the novel Hamlet.
Overall I felt this was a very well written book and would recommend it for reading on the enjoyment level because of Kennedy's use of real life in the Big Apple during the 1930's.
Rating: 5
Summary: A hidden treasure
Comment: I have to admit that I had never heard of William Kennedy or IRONWEED when I ran across the book on the sale table at a local book store. I picked it up because the price was right and I'm always interested as to why certain books get a Pulitzer Prize.
With no knowlege of Kennedy and his work, I did some research before I started the book. An outline that I found on line with discussion questions for each chapter was great. Getting background on the characters is a must for this book.
This is not an easy read and would be totally confusing if the reader did not understand the technique that the author uses wherein he has the dead talking to the main character.
In some respects this book is like THE GRAPES OF WRATH. It is about the permanent underclass and how they live. It is about a man that is hopelessly lost in a situation of proverty. He has caused the death of his own son and other men and in a sense he is cursed. But Francis does have a good side that shows throughout the book.
There are tragic women in the story and tragic lives of men who have chosen a path in life that has no happy ending.
IRONWEED is certainly not long. Once you get into the characters its a fascinating story. I can understand why it received the prize.
Rating: 4
Summary: modern day classic
Comment: I buy books from the used book store and when ever I go there I try to find the "good deals" on some first edition or another collectible from any Noble Prize winner. I had never heard of William Kennedy. (The only Kennedy's I can recall have initials JF etc and were from New England. Unfortunately they did not have the time or energy to write any work of fiction.) So I almost skipped it. The guy standing next to me (I ignored him as another old fart who gives advice since its free) - advice me to buy it and told me that I will not regret spending this 2 dollars. (Well I donate more than that to starbucks every morning). I am glad I took his advice and bought the book. I was right on hooked to the book from the very first line.
The primary character of the book is Billy Phelan, an ex-ball player, full time drunk, part time grave digger, who has hit the rock bottom. Well again what is bottom - something which is half empty to me is half full to somebody else. Bill Phelan realizes the problems of his life but never puts his chin down. You will love the guts of this character. He suffers from his own misdeeds of the past and his past haunts him since he tries to find justification for all his acts except for one act. This one act is his accidental fatal dropping of his infant. Bill never tries to justify that act.
Sometimes that dialogue between Bill and his hobo friends reminded me of "Of Mice and Men" - all the dialogues are remarkable. Bill is like the character of Freddie Mercury (Freddie used to be loud and his acts defined him to certain extent but it was his song which immortalized him. You may not love Freddie but you cannot deny his presence in the music scene) - you can avoid Bill or hate him but you cannot deny his presence. He is like the pole of a magnet either you are attracted or repelled.
I like reading it and will keep it in my collection - hope you will like it too.
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Title: Legs by William J. Kennedy ISBN: 0140064842 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: January, 1983 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Billy Phelan's Greatest Game by William Kennedy ISBN: 0140063404 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: January, 1983 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer ISBN: 0375700811 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 28 April, 1998 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: A Summons to Memphis by Peter Taylor ISBN: 0375701176 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 29 June, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: An American Requiem : God, My Father, and the War That Came Between Us by James Carroll ISBN: 039585993X Publisher: Mariner Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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