Jayakrishnan's Reviews > Deliverance

Three squares led by a survivalist, head to rural America in search of adventure. They get more than they bargained for. But in the process, some of them become better men. Deliverance is one of the best survival novels of all time. It is amazing how American novels speak to the whole world. They speak everyone's language and appeal to people from all cultures. I am sure readers from all earth alienated cultures would be able to identify with Deliverance.

It is a really entertaining novel once the narrators tone changes from that of an irritating middle class pussy who is in awe of the canoe trip and the river to one of a self assured man who is going to hold his own and survive in nature. The first half of the novel was a bit of a slog because Dickey overemphasizes the inadequacy of Ed Gentry (the narrator) and his feeling of awe for Lewis (Ed's ultra masculine friend and leader of the group) almost as if he is a little kid looking up to his father.

After Lewis is severely injured when their boat overturns, Ed takes up responsibility for the groups safety almost with a feeling of glee. It is almost as if Ed is a cunning character who waited for "shit to hit the fan" so that he could show what a tough guy he was. That's just the impression that I got. Maybe there is a bit of a sadist in all of us, who fantasizes about taking over from the alpha male. The path to manhood is filled with malevolence and treachery.