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Alan's Reviews > Deliverance: A Novel
Deliverance: A Novel
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by
THE BOYS!
That’s the only phrase that would come to mind for almost the entirety of this book. It is deeply masculine, at once confronting us with the vulnerability of being a man in the modern age (modern in the sense of a strict comparison to nomadic times), as well as the vulnerability of being a man in general. A boys’ canoe trip in deep, deep Georgia puts me on edge. I’m a city kid through and through. At first, I would be thinking about where I am sleeping, what I’m eating, and where the toilet is. Then, I would be thinking about the fact that none of the habits that I have built up in my life are applicable in the world of nature (as Ed Gentry realizes in the book). There is a time and a place for civility, and nature strips you of both of those.
I picked this one up randomly and was not expecting anything that happened in it to happen. That’s rare these days, and I was wildly entertained. From 20 or so pages in until the very last page, I was hooked. Honest to god, I could not even pick out a single climax from this narrative. Something wild would happen, then something even wilder. And then, before you had time to catch your breath, you were flying again. What a beautiful reminder of the joys of reading and a carefully constructed narrative by a master, and so many examples of beautiful writing, like the following:
That’s the only phrase that would come to mind for almost the entirety of this book. It is deeply masculine, at once confronting us with the vulnerability of being a man in the modern age (modern in the sense of a strict comparison to nomadic times), as well as the vulnerability of being a man in general. A boys’ canoe trip in deep, deep Georgia puts me on edge. I’m a city kid through and through. At first, I would be thinking about where I am sleeping, what I’m eating, and where the toilet is. Then, I would be thinking about the fact that none of the habits that I have built up in my life are applicable in the world of nature (as Ed Gentry realizes in the book). There is a time and a place for civility, and nature strips you of both of those.
I picked this one up randomly and was not expecting anything that happened in it to happen. That’s rare these days, and I was wildly entertained. From 20 or so pages in until the very last page, I was hooked. Honest to god, I could not even pick out a single climax from this narrative. Something wild would happen, then something even wilder. And then, before you had time to catch your breath, you were flying again. What a beautiful reminder of the joys of reading and a carefully constructed narrative by a master, and so many examples of beautiful writing, like the following:
I touched the knife hilt at my side, and remembered that all men were once boys, and that boys are always looking for ways to become men. Some of the ways are easy, too; all you have to do is be satisfied that it has happened.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
September 4, 2023
– Shelved
September 4, 2023
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origin-american
September 4, 2023
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Finished Reading
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Ken
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Sep 07, 2023 03:37AM
The movie's more famous than the book, though I don't think I got past the first 15 minutes of the movie (an ugly 15, I'll tell you). That said, I've read sterling things about Dickey and how underrated he is as a writer, so really I should have an accident like you and just pick up one of his books and read it. Maybe, as was the case with the Philip K. Dick book I just read, I'll be pleasantly surprised by the pull of plot (always nice in this MFA-era of writing).
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Ken wrote: "The movie's more famous than the book, though I don't think I got past the first 15 minutes of the movie (an ugly 15, I'll tell you). That said, I've read sterling things about Dickey and how under..."I saw some clips after I was done - I had surprisingly never heard of the movie, though now I see all the hype that there had been around it.
Also, had no idea that he was a Poet Laureate in the 60s! If he has the same sense of urgency and gravity in his poetry, it looks like I have a new collection of poems to barrel through. Not sure if you have come across them.
Wonderful summary a review, Alan. Notice Dickey's main point: Man rapes the land, by building a dam in the wilderness, and nature fights back by raping the boys, at least once successfully. The novel and the movie are that rare thing, an instant classic. Dickey was not a pleasant man, as detailed by his son, the journalist Christopher Dickey, in his memoir, SUMMER OF DELIVERANCE.
Julio wrote: "Wonderful summary a review, Alan. Notice Dickey's main point: Man rapes the land, by building a dam in the wilderness, and nature fights back by raping the boys, at least one successfully. The nove..."Thanks for your wonderful comment Julio - one that has made me review what I have read and think about it more closely. I appreciate it.
You are very welcome, Alan. Did you know Dickey read the poem at Jimmy Carter's inauguration, "The Strength of Fields"? Carter had allowed John Boorman to film DELIVERANCE on location in Georgia.
Julio wrote: "You are very welcome, Alan. Did you know Dickey read the poem at Jimmy Carter's inauguration, "The Strength of Fields"? Carter had allowed John Boorman to film DELIVERANCE on location in Georgia."Haven't read his poetry yet, but upcoming.
Great, Alan. I read Burt Reynolds' autobiography while I was in the can and Burt quotes Ned Beatty telling him, "If I live to a hundred people with still be yelling 'Squeal like a pig, boy!' at me on the street". He was right.
