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Sto caricando le informazioni... You Can't Go Home Again (1940)di Thomas Wolfe
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Iscriviti per consentire a LibraryThing di scoprire se ti piacerà questo libro. Attualmente non vi sono conversazioni su questo libro. I don't read a lot of fiction, but since I was in high school, I've been told that Thomas Wolfe was one of America's greatest writers. Since, unlike Fitzgerald and Hemingway, I have never been required to read his work, I thought I would begin with You Can't Go Home Again, which has been called his magnum opus. The book surprised me. To begin with, I didn't care for the characters. Generally, to really enjoy fiction, I must like or at least relate to the characters. But here, I was either completely indifferent toward, or actively disliked, all of them. Next, the writing style could be difficult. I understand that the style was meant to mirror the atmosphere George Webber, the main and semi-autobiographical character, was immersed in. But it was still difficult to wade through. George did have his issues. What kept me reading were the moments of startling genius that blazed through. I would find myself wanting to toss the book into the backyard, only to be suddenly be pulled up short with an astounding insight into human character made, seemingly out of nowhere. These moments kept me reading. In the end, I found myself both pleased and aggravated with George's sincere but arrogant assertions that his understanding of how a person ought to behave is the only decent course available. After completing it, I found that the book was published posthumously by Wolfe's editor. This is not Max Perkins on whom Fox Edwards was based, but the editor Wolfe left Perkins for. That explained some things. I give this book a high rating because, in spite of its flaws, it forced me to confront unpleasant traits in human beings and society. Sometimes I don't know the truth until someone like Wolfe points it out. One day, I may work up my nerve to read Wolfe again. nessuna recensione | aggiungi una recensione
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You Can't Go Home Again is a novel by Thomas Wolfe published posthumously in 1940. The novel tells the story of George Webber, a fledgling author, who writes a book that makes frequent references to his home town of Libya Hill. The book is a national success but the residents of the town, unhappy with what they view as Webber's distorted depiction of them, send the author menacing letters and death threats. Non sono state trovate descrizioni di biblioteche |
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Google Books — Sto caricando le informazioni... GeneriSistema Decimale Melvil (DDC)813.52Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1900-1944Classificazione LCVotoMedia:
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This novel again feels autobiographical. The central character, George Webber, is a southern writer struggling to focus on writing. It also is very much of a time and place. It was written at the height of the depression and with the rise of Nazis and fascists in Europe. Lots of easy targets. The roaring twenties is exposed for its lack of a real foundation. All those beliefs in growth and reward make easy targets for lack of foresight. They didn't see the ground coming out from under them. Wolfe sees them as pure speculators and hucksters, not as builders of a better future. The banker who had been seen as a pillar of the community is now someone who stole other people's money. Not surprising that Wolfe became popular, everyone wanted to put the blame on someone for their predicament. In the beginning of the story George has a wealthy older, married, mistress. He's even invited to a party she's giving with her husband. He reluctantly attends. The party turns out to be a disaster. The performer she's hired brings his own entourage and a fire ends the fiasco. George decides he can't continue with the relationship, he clearly disapproves of her life, her husband and their friends. He decides enough of that, that's all false and he wants to have nothing to do with that. He saw it as interfering with his writing. I was disappointed. That storyline seemed interesting.
George then moves to Brooklyn living a much sparer life style and concentrating on finishing his first book. Not clear that this is what Wolfe did but it would not surprise me. Once his book is published he has some money and moves to Paris, like many writers of that time. He falls under the sway of a major writer who believes that George, based on his first book, is a major writer. George appreciates the attention. He even visits Berlin. He eventually returns to New York living in a apartment with some other Southerners. I found this section of the book less engaging. I did not see the point of it. It's a shame Wolfe dies young and we have so few of his works. He was definitely a talented writer. ( )