I came to this novel having seen the 1957 film version and being intrigued with the film and wondering how faithful it was to the novel. I was surprised to find that the core of the film was not the main body of the novel, but only covered the final thirty pages or so. Yet this was no disappointment. I'd not read O'Hara before, but I will read more. This is a rather wonderful novel encompassing decades in the life of the central figure, Joe Chapin, a well-to-do Pennsylvania lawyer. The novel, told in one 390-page chapter and one 18-page one, skips around chronologically, but always fluidly, organically, as if the characters and time periods were taking turns with the story. It is filled with rich characters, some spectacular writing, and sometimes that writing reaches the level of magnificence. It is filled with insights into the wealthy of a middling-sized city in the first half of the twentieth century, and some of O'Hara's descriptions of political thought could have been written today. In the end, it made me care deeply about the sort of man one might not particularly care for. It is a real work of art, expressed with a wry poetry and an unblinking eye. ( )

The ending really smaltzed it up. It was laughable. ( )

Another novel that is a strong mix of what I liked and didn't like. Thus. we end in the middle with three stars. The writing style felt old, out-dated. It reminded me a bit of Booth Tarkington's work, especially The Magnificent Ambersons. It is hard to believe that John O'Hara was a contemporary of Hemingway, Faulkner and Steinbeck. And then there is the subject matter. A white man from a wealthy family who had all of the advantages struggles to achieve his life's dreams. Not very inspiring or appealing.

And yet. Published in 1955, this novel addresses honestly and transparently many of the cultural blemishes and warts of the time: pre-marital sex, the resulting pregnancies and abortions, extramarital affairs by men and women, female as compared to male satisfaction from sex, class relations, alcoholism, the advantages of being born into the right family, etc. Politics and business relationships are integral to the story and described intelligently and in detail. It is all here. The writing is quite good, and the dialogue is excellent.

A good read and a great commentary on a part of American society, but stylistically tired and tedious.
( )

507. Ten North Frederick, by John O'Hara (read 13 Apr 1957) (National Book Award fiction prize for 1956) Not too good. ( )

Pretty good book. I always enjoy O'Hara and his Pennsylvania connections and his very accurate portrayal of automobiles of the period about which he is writing. I also liked the opening of the book setting an odd tone for a family's response to a major death in the family and then, the remainder of the book clearing up how such came to be. I also have finally read enough O'Hara to notice that he peppers his books with tiny references to previous books of his, for example, phoning his daughter in NYC at "Butterfield 8" & expostulating on the main character's 'rage to live.' I now have a near complete set of O'Hara's works on my shelves and i look forward to continuing on with them. ( )