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Michael's Reviews > Deliverance
Deliverance
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A masterpiece of lyrical, intense writing. When I think of the old writing admonition "make haste, slowly," I think of this book, because the plot is riveting and tense and yet it all unfurls with a measured deliberation, with great care in the writing that transforms it from a potboiler to something far more beautiful. There are so many arresting sentences here. I've cracked the book at random to highlight just a couple (and I don't think they'll spoil anything since they're devoid of context):
"I knew it was not a game, and yet, whenever I could, I glanced at the corpse to see if it would come out of the phony trance it was in, and stand up and shake hands all around, someone new we'd met in the woods, who could give us some idea where we were. But the head kept dropping back, and we kept having to keep it up, clear of the weeds and briars, so that we could go wherever we were going with it."
"I knew it was not a game, and yet, whenever I could, I glanced at the corpse to see if it would come out of the phony trance it was in, and stand up and shake hands all around, someone new we'd met in the woods, who could give us some idea where we were. But the head kept dropping back, and we kept having to keep it up, clear of the weeds and briars, so that we could go wherever we were going with it."
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September 5, 2017
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Jaline
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Sep 05, 2017 08:20PM
Terrific, Michael. I can still remember how shell-shocked I was after seeing this movie. Maybe now that it's so many years later, I could actually read the book. :)
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Two names that occured to me in reading your review, Michael: at one point, the quote made me think of Poe; at another, of Melville. It seems the fine tradition of American Lit carries on through the literary bloodlines. I've never read anything by Dickey, and realized in this review I may have been missing much. Thanks.
Your review conjured up a memory of that unforgettable movie!
Oh, man, I loved this book.
Thank you, Jaline! I've actually never seen the film, so I'll be doing the same in reverse--finally seeing the film after the shock of the book wears off!
Thanks so much, Julie, and what a wonderful observation. I actually hadn't put those names together before, but now that you mention them I'm slapping my forehead and saying "Of course!" This book has some of the macabre slow-burning horror of Poe and much of the sublime sense of nature's supreme indifference of Melville. I suppose it's no surprise that they are two of my favorite writers--that this kind of writing resonates with me. If it does the same for you, I know you'll enjoy it.
Thanks, Carol. I've never seen the film, but the book is just terrific. I'm curious actually how close they are. Only one way to find out, I suppose!
Thanks, Alex! So glad you're a fellow fan. It's a fantastic book.
Michael wrote: "Thanks so much, Julie, and what a wonderful observation. I actually hadn't put those names together before, but now that you mention them I'm slapping my forehead and saying "Of course!" This book ..."You set the foreshadowing, Michael, in your first sentence: when I think of "lyrical, intense writing" on the American continent, I think of Melville, and Poe -- and the quote hit me "write" between the eyes! Poe and Melville: two of my favourites.
Julie wrote: "Michael wrote: "Thanks so much, Julie, and what a wonderful observation. I actually hadn't put those names together before, but now that you mention them I'm slapping my forehead and saying "Of cou..."You're exactly right (or "write"), Julie! Glad to know we both share a fondness for Poe and Melville. So many interesting connections between those writers, both so wonderfully dark and so steeped in romanticism.
Hi Michael,It's the other Julie. This movie freaked me out. . . bad. Can I read the book? How do the two compare, from a violence/disturbing scenes perspective?
Julie wrote: "Hi Michael,It's the other Julie. This movie freaked me out. . . bad. Can I read the book? How do the two compare, from a violence/disturbing scenes perspective?"
Thanks, Julie! You know, I never saw the film, so I really can't compare them. The violence in the book didn't strike me as particularly gross or gratuitous--that kind of thing usually turns me off--but the book is certainly dark and disturbing in its way. I hope this helps!
Thanks, Michael. I think it does. I'm not a fan of "dark and disturbing," so I'll probably pass, though I'm always tempted by good writing (and good reviews!)
Michael, I don't think I'll ever see the movie, but your review has definitely caught my attention. Thanks.
Thanks, LaDonna! I do hope you enjoy the book. I've never seen the movie, but the book is fantastic.
I saw the movie over 40 yrs ago, and it's always stayed wirh me, but only now have read the book. Excellent writing, an absolute gem! I do think the movie was a highly successful adaptation of book to film, and now I want to watch it again.
Okay, to follow up to ^^ , I watched it today, and the book is better. While quite good, the movie isn't as good as I remember. Like a lot of things 40+ years later, I guess. 😏
Thanks so much, Margaret. I have yet to see the film myself, but this is good to know! Funny how things are better in our memories....
You're so right, Michael. 🙋
Hello Michael, I read the book years ago and have just finished listening to the audio version. It is so authentic and still relevant. Dickey refers to the amount of plastic floating in the river, that unlike the tin cans and other detritus will never break down to it's elements. Of course I have seen the film and it is a classic. The book is poetic and pragmatic. Most definitely five stars. Cheers Jx
I greatly enjoyed the back and forth prior to the passage you quoted. What I like to call the deliberance of Deliverance.
Paul wrote: "I greatly enjoyed the back and forth prior to the passage you quoted. What I like to call the deliberance of Deliverance."Thanks so much, Paul! I enjoyed that too. So much of this book is deliberate yet unputdownable, just a masterful feat of narrative tension.
Just saying... I was the 100th person to like your review. Maybe it will be good luck to follow. Lol
