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362nd out of 1,871 books
—
3,706 voters
Handling Sin
by
Michael Malone (Goodreads Author)
On the Ides of March, our hero, Raleigh Whittier Hayes (forgetful husband, baffled father, prosperous insurance agent and leading citizen of Thermopylae, North Carolina), learns that his father has discharged himself from the hospital, taken all his money out of the bank and, with a young black female mental patient, vanished in a yellow Cadillac convertible. Left behind i...more
Paperback, 640 pages
Published
September 1st 2001
by Sourcebooks Landmark
(first published April 1st 1986)
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A surprising and delightful read. It goes down like an old fashioned, satirical adventure novel such as “Don Quixote” crossed with an absurd cross-country road trip as in “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World” or a comedy starring Peter Sellars.
The set-up is nicely done in the preface and first chapter:
There lived in the piedmont of North Carolina a decent citizen and responsible family man named Raleigh Whittier Hayes, who obeyed the law and tried to do the right thing. He had a wife and two daughters… E...more
The set-up is nicely done in the preface and first chapter:
There lived in the piedmont of North Carolina a decent citizen and responsible family man named Raleigh Whittier Hayes, who obeyed the law and tried to do the right thing. He had a wife and two daughters… E...more
14 likes · like · see review
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This is an exuberant, raucous, Drunkard's Walk of a book. It's the kind of book words like exuberant and raucous were coined to describe. And I loved it.
There is a huge, entertainingly flawed, and distinctly memorable cast of capital-C Characters. The story weaves all over a good portion of the southern United States. The plot veers crazily as well. This is a book you have to go into just wanting to be entertained, and willing to let the author take his own sweet time.
The main character is Rale...more
There is a huge, entertainingly flawed, and distinctly memorable cast of capital-C Characters. The story weaves all over a good portion of the southern United States. The plot veers crazily as well. This is a book you have to go into just wanting to be entertained, and willing to let the author take his own sweet time.
The main character is Rale...more
21 likes · like · see review
This is a GREAT book! You know how so many well-written contemporary books are so angst-ridden? It's like you can't write a complex, literary kind of work unless your main character is from some other country reflecting on horrible events that ended up isolating him or her from all other people (except, perhaps, for cold, angsty love affairs)and now, in America, reflects on the failure of the American dream.
Yeah, this book is every bit as complex, literary, and well-written as those books, but...more
Yeah, this book is every bit as complex, literary, and well-written as those books, but...more
I just finished this and laughed the whole way through... Malone's great for a comic read, and this is my favorite of his so far. Why isn't he more popular? And someone please make this movie, although I know the chances aren't great I'll like it. But I love the potential of a great movie based on "Handling Sin." Someone? Anyone?
4 likes · like · see review
At my last job, my co-workers saw the title and clerical collar on the cover of this book and assumed I was a religous zealot.
No.
This is one of my all-time favorite books. It takes a bit to get into it, but once the characters hit the road you won't be able to put it down. Oh, Mingo Schetfield!
No.
This is one of my all-time favorite books. It takes a bit to get into it, but once the characters hit the road you won't be able to put it down. Oh, Mingo Schetfield!
This book made me laugh many times. The story centers on our hero, Raleigh Whittier Hayes who is sent by his dying father on a quest of collecting an odd assortment of items and even a few people along the way from Thermopylae, North Carolina to New Orleans. Earley Hayes checks himself out of the hospital in the beginning and everyone, including the serious minded Raleigh and his Aunt Victoria think he's really gone even further off the deep end. Once the quest starts Raleigh and his hysterical,...more
Defiantly not my usual fare, but sure glad I took a chance on it. This a wild and wacky two week journey from Theromoplyae, North Carolina to New Orleans taken by one Raleigh Whittier Hayes, his best friend Mingo Sheffield and an assorted group relatives and strangers. Raleigh, a insurance salesman an upright pillar of the community is tasked by his elderly father to perform a number of tasks and then meet him in New Orleans on a certain date. Now Early Hayes (dad) was last seen leaving the hosp...more
I very rarely read a book twice; there are just too many good books out there. But this is the third time I’ve read this and I’ve sure it won’t be the last.
Raleigh Whittier Hayes prides himself on being the sensible, reliable member of his large extended family. He is a respected member of his local community in Thermopylae, North Carolina, has a successful insurance business and loves his wife and two teenage daughters.
Raleigh’s life is turned upside down when his elderly father suddenly disc...more
Raleigh Whittier Hayes prides himself on being the sensible, reliable member of his large extended family. He is a respected member of his local community in Thermopylae, North Carolina, has a successful insurance business and loves his wife and two teenage daughters.
Raleigh’s life is turned upside down when his elderly father suddenly disc...more
This is totally hilarious southern literature. I have been wondering if it's so funny to me because of my experience living among southern culture, or if it would be just as funny to someone who had never experienced southern culture. It's a riot of a read though, keeps you on the edge of your seat and is a good adventure.
1 like · like · see review
Jul 19, 2012
Doreen Fritz
added it
A hilarious story of a very ordinary, do-the-right-thing guy, Raleigh, who gets caught up in a quest when his extremely ill father "escapes" from the hospital and sends for his son to meet him in New Orleans in two weeks with several items: an old trumpet; the concrete sculpture of his archrival, which must be stolen out of the library; an old family trunk; his ne'er-do-well and long-missing half-brother; and a man named Jubel. A series of unbelievable coincidences and misfortunes brings Raleigh...more
This book was hilarious--had me laughing out loud, and eager to get back to it. An escapade with amazing characters, lots of action--it's a pleasure to read. It's 5 stars for me--but is it one of the greatest books of all times? No. I'm realizing I need to rate for my enjoyment--which was great.
The funniest book I've ever read. While it's terribly cliched to say so, this book really did make me laugh and make me cry. READ THIS BOOK.
The story of a man whose orderly, controlled life is torn every which way to pieces in a few short weeks, this 'road' book covers an amazing amount of ground.
The story of a man whose orderly, controlled life is torn every which way to pieces in a few short weeks, this 'road' book covers an amazing amount of ground.
1 like · like · see review
I feel like I should have liked this more, but I wanted it to end after 400 pages. The background, hisory and irony are meticulous and I found a lot of the scenes quite funny. It reminded me of Peter DeVries. I read a bunch of his books in the 80s. Unfortunately, I couldn't help myself wondering why they didn't keep in touch with cell phones!
Are the stereotypes there to point out stereotyping? Gluttonous fat guy with heart of gold; wizened old black housemaid; uptight white insurance man; black...more
Are the stereotypes there to point out stereotyping? Gluttonous fat guy with heart of gold; wizened old black housemaid; uptight white insurance man; black...more
1 like · like · see review
I started this book nearly thirty years ago and never finished. I am so glad that I returned to it now. If I was ever going to return to writing, this is the sort of book I would like to write. It's got a bit of everything except graphic sex or violence, not to say sex and violence are not there, they just aren't the raw version we see in other novels these days. In bygone years, the book would be described as picaresque, nowadays I think they call it a "road trip" novel. Throughout the tone cha...more
Nov 13, 2011
Ashley
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those in need of a good laugh or cheering up
I was turned onto this book after first reading Dingley Falls by Michael Malone. I loved his style of writing and was compelled to read more of his work, assuming it would possess the same great genius. Handling Sin did not let me down. I am typically not the kind of person who enjoys reading comedy, but this book did much to raise my spirits at a time when I really needed it. The story is a unique roller coaster that delves into a neurotic, boring insurance salesman's family history and his que...more
Can somebody tell my why this book isn't really famous? It should be. Because it's wonderful in every respect. I'm re-reading it, finding it even funnier the second time, and marveling at how Malone kees all those balls in the air without dropping a single one. He's a master.
And here's the thing. The book isn't just a meandering Southern picaresque ramble through the South, with all the requisite Southern types---it's ultimately a serious book treating a serious subject.
It really doesn't get b...more
And here's the thing. The book isn't just a meandering Southern picaresque ramble through the South, with all the requisite Southern types---it's ultimately a serious book treating a serious subject.
It really doesn't get b...more
An editor for my last book--How To Live Forever--the excellent Meg Knox, who also edited Nine Lives: Life and Death in New Orleans--told me it reminded her of Handling Sin and suggested I read it. Wow. I''ve never been so complimented. Malone's book is the ultimate Southern picaresque comedy, complex and full of heart and completely entertaining. Okay, A Confederacy of Dunces has a better title, but otherwise... you can't go wrong. And if you do like it, you might check out a certain New-Age Bou...more
Hilariousness upon hilarity, an epic "Confederacy of Dunces"-style road story with some of the goofiest characters I've ever encountered. Mingo Sheffield? I was cracking up within the first few pages and simply did not stop. I recently read this for the book club that I moderate, and I could not have been happier with it. The story, the humor, the flow, the jabs taken towards Southern culture and blind faith Christianity, etc... I was blown away. There is no need whatsoever to view this book as...more
Out of the thousands of books I've read, so many I can't even remember half because I didn't keep a list then, this one stands blazingly out from amongst those long forgotten. I never forgot this one. Cliched as it might sound, Michael Malone had me laughing out loud, (all alone, by myself) with this one. It also has great heart, you'll laugh and cry. I have given this book away as a gift more than any other book, that's how much I enjoyed it. A wonderful tale from start to finish. Not for the p...more
This is a tricky book for me to rate and review. I'd really like to give it about 3.4 stars but, clearly, that isn't an option. Following the rules of rounding, I should technically give it three stars, but that just seemed too low.
Here's the thing. This book is funny. It has great characters. Are some of them a bit stereotypical? Yes. But stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, and these characters are still interesting.
But, this book has a lot of characters, all of them quirky and/or eccent...more
Here's the thing. This book is funny. It has great characters. Are some of them a bit stereotypical? Yes. But stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, and these characters are still interesting.
But, this book has a lot of characters, all of them quirky and/or eccent...more
A hilarious book that is fast paced and filled with bizarre characters and outrageous situations that has a lot of fun with the notion of a Southern gentleman. The hero, Raleigh Hayes, is a successful, upstanding member of his North Carolina community, not without his faults but a guy who leads a normal, everyday life. When his elderly father bolts out of the local hospital taking a young black girl, who has some mental issues, with him he leaves Raleigh with a series of tasks he must complete i...more
This is a big book, with a lot packed into it, so it's sort of hard to know what to say about it. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of The Pickwick Papers, with misunderstandings and coincidences, and the main characters sort of bumbling around and managing to get themselves into and out of trouble with seeming to really understand what was actually going on around them.
Similarly, the book reminded me a lot of A Confederacy of Dunces, at least in the beginning. There's the sort of curmudgeonly an...more
Similarly, the book reminded me a lot of A Confederacy of Dunces, at least in the beginning. There's the sort of curmudgeonly an...more
I love this book!! It is funny on nearly every page, with well-written humor that is both subtle and hilariously outrageous. The characters are larger than life and well drawn, each with unique and wonderful idiosyncrasies. It is both a laugh-out-loud tale of an epic journey, and a wise exploration of life, Christianity, and the things that are truly important. At the end of its 600+ pages, I just wished I could read more about this colorful group of people, and I found myself missing Earley Hay...more
this book was stupid and not funny is what i was going to type but because the author is on goodreads and may read this thoughtless review and come to my house and beat me up i should qualify that
i think i read too many positive reviews before i read it and kept waiting for the super funny thing everyone was talking about to happen and it never did
the story just sort of progressed from one event to the next, none of which were terribly strange or funny to me
i think i read too many positive reviews before i read it and kept waiting for the super funny thing everyone was talking about to happen and it never did
the story just sort of progressed from one event to the next, none of which were terribly strange or funny to me
I read this book for the second time late last year because it is simply one of the funniest, wisest novels I've ever finished and once again I was sad to see it come to an end. Poor Raleigh Hayes, insurance salesman, is sent on a Don Quijote-like quest that takes him all over the South and into a mind-boggling variety of situations, all to help him reconnect with some of his family. It is a book about grace and love and never taking oneself too seriously.
Hilarious story of a guy who "had it all", then things start to happen. I'd say its right up there with" the Janet Evanovich series. Desperate to retrieve his ailing father, he approaches this task with the same determination and focus his applies to everything he does. Life, however, has other plans for our hero. Ir it was a little "wordy" for me, lots of side-tracks. Hard for me to get through but worth it.
I have read this book a minium of 4 times and it tops my list of all time favorite books. It is the ultimate road book and is hands down the funniest one I have ever read. Raleigh Hayes is an unadventurous insurance salesman who is forced into extraordinary circumstances in order to get his ailing father back into a hospital. Raleigh is in for the ride of his life and he learns a lot about himself along the way.
A quest. Raleigh Whittier Hayes sets off to complete a mission to locate his father who has left the hospital AMA with Raleigh's inheritance. Raleigh has to complete seven ridiculous tasks to rescue his father. Raleigh has been an ideal citizen of Thermopylae, sitting in judgment of his relatives, the towns people and even of God. On this journey, Raleigh takes along his fat loyal friend, his reckless half brother and a host of others. The story is an adventure in which the three men grow and di...more
Superficially,this book reminds you of the movie-"Mad,mad,world "or even a "Cannonball Run" movie. - a madcap,comic odyssey of eccentric characters.Fast paced and constantly funny yet somewhat hyperbolic. On another level,it is a story of love , family and reconciliation. A story filled with hope that we are all always open to change. A touching, satisfying novel.(670 pp.but don't avoid it because it is an easy read and well worth it) Mr. Malone is fast becoming one of my new favorite writers. I...more
Reading this book was like a love affair that quietly grew and caught me by surprise. At first I laughed out loud and found the book very amusing, but wondered why it was going to take the author 540 pages to finish the story. I had categorized the book as a Good-Ol'-Boy Road Trip. The Odyssey fueled by grits and racism. The book is very well written and laugh-out-loud funny, but I was at least halfway through it before I realized that I really cared for the whole absurd collection of characters...more
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Michael Malone is the author of ten novels, a collection of short stories, and two works of nonfiction. Educated at Carolina and at Harvard, he is now a professor in Theater Studies at Duke University. Among his prizes are the Edgar, the O. Henry, the Writers Guild Award, and the Emmy. He lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina, with his wife.
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