Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson 467 pages What’s it about? Pete Snow is a social worker working in rural Montana in 1980. He struggles to help his less than likable clients; at the same time he struggles in his own personal life. At times his emotional connection to his clients seems stronger than the connection to his own family. Every character in this novel is deeply flawed, but the talented Smith Henderson also makes these same characters sympathetic. This novel creates a picture of the rural West that is both interesting and deeply troubling. What did it make me think about? It made me think about our social welfare system. The people falling through the cracks have complex issues. The children suffer and then fall through the cracks themselves. What is to be done? Very thought provoking… Should I read it? I would recommend it. The story takes a long time to set up. However, I really liked the way the author created such fully drawn characters. There are no “good guys” or “bad guys”. Everyone in this novel is deeply flawed. Sometimes I wished they were not so unlikable as it often left no one to root for. Quote- “Not knowing where she was. Oh my God. An untold sorrow. He’s seen so much suffering, but he’d only suffered it secondarily. To have it fresh and his own. The scope of it. He’d had no idea. He’d known nothing.” Question- Do the flaws of the social welfare system, portrayed in this novel, fuel the anarchy that we now see in the Western United States? If you liked this try- An Unfinished Life by Mark Spragg The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout 7 ½ stars 8/19/2014 In retrospect I should have rated this book higher. |
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
next upbest of spring/summer 2017best of winter
|
best of summer 2014
last spring favorites
on my nightstand
edge of your seat
guest reviews
and the mountains echoed
the bully pulpit
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
― Charles William Eliot
ratings
3 to 4- I found some aspect of this book redeeming but would not recommend it.
5 to 6- I really enjoyed something about this book (characters, plot, meaning etc.) but it was uneven. Some aspects were stronger than others.
7 to 8- It was a good book. I liked lots of aspects of this book. I would recommend it.
9 to 10- I was sorry to turn the last page. I highly recommend this book!