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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My second Portis book this summer, and while Dog of the South was better, Norwood is still a really great read. Again, the Portis magic is in the characters. At 23, Norwood is both immature and worldly, but most of all, he just seems like a kid trying to figure out his way. The cast of characters around him are absurd--the world's smartest chicken and a well-dressed midget join Norwood on his trip back to Texas.
I couldn't see how it would wrap up in the final pages. There was still so much to be done! The story doesn't "wrap up" so much as close on a stationary note.
A book full of characters that will stick with you, for sure.
I couldn't see how it would wrap up in the final pages. There was still so much to be done! The story doesn't "wrap up" so much as close on a stationary note.
A book full of characters that will stick with you, for sure.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
Gratuitous use of the n-word
Charles Portis passed away at the beginning of this year, which got me reading about him, and then got me reading Norwood, and then a couple months later, got me reading True Grit. Norwood is great! It's an easy read, not too long, humorous throughout. Not really funny such that you'll be cracking up out loud, probably, but more along the lines of something that might make you remark, "That's funny."
Boy, if there's one thing Charles Portis knows how to do well, it's take ordinary characters and put them in the most bizarre situations. The colorful side characters Mr. Portis creates just add to the flavor.
His dialog and hucksters are fantastic to read, and the short length makes it a great recommendation for me. I do love a succinct story.
His dialog and hucksters are fantastic to read, and the short length makes it a great recommendation for me. I do love a succinct story.
Fantastic piece of characterization, on a small-scale Americana-esq adventure. This story is interesting but it does stagnate here and there, in terms of shewing away consequences. Norwood is either the luckiest man alive or Portis simply chose to do away with the negative feedback loop many stories are prone to. It's his first novel, it's short, and it certainly suffers from some technique issues, such as the time jumps from night to day or place to place being rather jarring. At any rate, it is still a fantastic read, quick and certainly funny.
Decent enough, but I kept hoping for something that was either a little more tense or weird like a Harry Crews or Day of the Locust.
