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The Bark Of The Dogwood: A Tour Of Southern Homes And Gardens
2002 Enolam trade paperback, Jackson Tippett McCrae (The Children's Corner). Asked to write a series of articles on Southern Homes and Gardens for a New York Magazine, Strekfus Beltzenschmidt (the main character in The Bark of the Dogwood) chooses not only some of the plantations and historic residences the South is known for.
- GenresFiction
450 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 23, 2019
I loved the beginning of this book as much as any book I’ve ever read: A man remembering himself as a young boy, treating in the worst possible way the one who loved him most; the victim doing nothing, allowing the boy to remember and regret that moment forever--and teaching him a lesson. That moment sets the tone for Bark of the Dogwood.
McCrae tells the story of an eccentric boy, Strekfus, growing up in the South with some messed up parents and a wonderful housekeeper, and creates some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments. That boy grows up to be a writer for a magazine that allows him to explore the events of his childhood and family history that had the most impact on him, many of them not so funny. Bark of the Dogwood is really two stories that could be read independently. One story (told as a series of magazine articles) takes place in the past; the other in the present, each told in distinctly different styles.
At times, it feels like a story about child abuse and neglect, but, for me, in the end it was a story about a very strong, loving woman who took great risks to protect and care for someone she loved.
One caveat: Bark contains one of the most graphic and disturbing scenes of infanticide that could ever be described. I would even rank it above the Dead-Baby Tree in Blood Meridian. McCrae goes too far.
If you liked Behind the Scenes at the Museum, you will probably like this book. My recommendation: Read this book while wearing your mother’s evening gown and high heels and standing on a stool in the kitchen.
McCrae tells the story of an eccentric boy, Strekfus, growing up in the South with some messed up parents and a wonderful housekeeper, and creates some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments. That boy grows up to be a writer for a magazine that allows him to explore the events of his childhood and family history that had the most impact on him, many of them not so funny. Bark of the Dogwood is really two stories that could be read independently. One story (told as a series of magazine articles) takes place in the past; the other in the present, each told in distinctly different styles.
At times, it feels like a story about child abuse and neglect, but, for me, in the end it was a story about a very strong, loving woman who took great risks to protect and care for someone she loved.
One caveat: Bark contains one of the most graphic and disturbing scenes of infanticide that could ever be described. I would even rank it above the Dead-Baby Tree in Blood Meridian. McCrae goes too far.
If you liked Behind the Scenes at the Museum, you will probably like this book. My recommendation: Read this book while wearing your mother’s evening gown and high heels and standing on a stool in the kitchen.
December 29, 2007
I would describe this book with one word: "underwhelming". I was looking for quirky southern, a la Confederacy of Dunces, but this was not it. The author tended to build situations up as if they were going to be really exciting, but it never delivered for me.
June 19, 2016
A middle-aged man finally comes to terms with his abusive childhood. But that hardly does justice to this tour de force of writing. Strekfus writes for a magazine about Southern Homes and Gardens but begins using his assignments as an excuse to explore his Southern childhood haunts. The author, Jackson Tippett McCrae, has pieced together a tale with stunning precision. There are two stories running simultaneously. One is a series of beautifully crafted flashbacks in which the storyteller and main character, Strekfus, writes about his childhood and youth in the first person. The second is third person narration about Strekfus in present day New York, as he makes sense of his past and finally comes to understand why he is the person he is. Look closely and you will find a myriad of anagrams acting as clues and hints. This is a
fully polished gem with every word carefully chosen.
fully polished gem with every word carefully chosen.
March 4, 2011
Asked to write a series of articles on Southern Homes and Gardens for a New York Magazine, Strekfus Beltzenschmidt--yes that is his name! (the main character in The Bark of the Dogwood) chooses not only some of the plantations and historic residences the South is known for, but places of his youth, including the home he grew up in and those of his relatives that he visited as a child. The intended articles become in essence, short stories, which then grow into the main character's memoirs about his turbulent and sometimes humorous childhood. The result is not only an ongoing battle with his boss over the magazine's content and direction, but a painful journey into remembering the people and places of his past. this was one of the stranger books i have read in my time but somehow rather strangely fascinating.
September 20, 2007
Good book, but could have been edited better. There was too much information and it often distracted you from the main plot. Overall, glad I read the book and would recommend it--made my family seem normal!
July 11, 2024
The Bark of the Dogwood, a Tour of Southern homes and Gardens by Jackson Tippett McCrae Is the book. I loved this book so much I am always eager to tell all my fellow readers about it. Especially since it is not a bestseller and I have not seen it on any best-selling list, so I know many readers wont easily come across this book. I kept seeing it mentioned in Amazon reviews of other books, and eventually decided to go for it.
Basic Plot Our hero, Strekfus Beltzenschmidt, is a 40 something single journalist, for a home and garden type magazine, living in New York. He left Alabama (and never went back)after high school, and left the south after college. He has been asked to write a series of 12 articles on homes of the south, the timing is perfect as his childhood housekeeper (and the only person who ever really took care of and loved him) has just died, and he was planning to go to her funeral.
The book then goes back and forth between 2 "storylines": The first storyline is the 12 articles, which are actually Strekfus's memories of a abusive yet funny and unusual childhood and his subsequent college years (the homes he writes of being the homes he and his relatives have lived in). The second storyline follows Strekfus's present life in New York. The storyline in New York focuses on his difficult relationship with his boss (who does not like the direction the articles has taken), his one friendship with a fellow southerner named Sharon, and Strekfus's struggle to remember the portions of his childhood he has blocked; but which seem to be threatening his sanity in a series of flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety attacks
What makes this book so spectacular?? I cannot even say enough here, but I will try: 1) The story itself. It is just riveting. It is funny at parts, disturbing at parts, and always fascinating and "un-put-down-able". I needed to know what had happened, why it had happened, what was going to happen next. 2) There was not one part of this book I skimmed, not one part that I didn't feel was worth reading. Often, books set in the present but filled with memories seem to tell a lot of childhood stories that just don't seem to interest me, and I find myself skimming them to get to the "real story". Not this book-it has 562 pages and not one is wasted on unnecessary detail (I like detail, but not when books spend 3 pages describing one tree!) or stories and descriptions that just don't seem to matter (a la The Corrections-how I'd spend hours reading the history of a salesperson or some other character, only to discover I would never see them in the book again and their history truly did not matter.). Not one page made me want to pass by it, just to get back to the story. Every single page was part of the story: every description, every line, every single word!!! 3) The connections. Every character in this story re-appears at some point. It is fascinating trying to put together the connections, and the amazing thing about McCrae's writing is you never have to go back to do so. You know how in some books the author bring up someone who seemed minor 200 pages later, and you have to go back to remember what exactly he said about this seemingly fleeting character way back in the book?? Not so with this book, every word is so memorable that I never once had to go back and check on past references and characters, even though there are are tonnes of characters!! 4) Lots of metaphors and anagrams, if you want them. If you are a reader who likes to look past the story, this is a great book for you. Almost every name in the book is an anagram. Every story in the book has a hidden reference or meaning (many relating to Truman Capote). There are Helen Keller quotes at the beginning of every chapter, as her coming out of darkness and silence to discover the world mirrors Strekfus's discoveries of himself. Even so, though these anagrams and metaphors are there-if you are a reader who chooses to focus on the obvious story, you can. Some books are so caught up in metaphor and imagery that you cannot get through it and just read the story (Ondaatje for example, whenever I read one of his books I wonder: what I am missing? I can just feel that I am missing a lot, and feel kinda dumb). This is not that kind of book at all. There is lots to think about behind the story if you want to, but if you just skip all that and read the book as it is, you'll still get a great story and not even realize you are missing out on something. 5) It is very funny at parts. Even though the story is serious, and some of the themes (racism, child abuse) are very serious, there are a lot of really funny descriptions and situations in this book. Strekfus's precocious and unusual childhood intelligence and manner, his mother's neurosis, his father's detachment, his boss's temper and his college antics all provide some very very humorous lines and scenes. SUPER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Basic Plot Our hero, Strekfus Beltzenschmidt, is a 40 something single journalist, for a home and garden type magazine, living in New York. He left Alabama (and never went back)after high school, and left the south after college. He has been asked to write a series of 12 articles on homes of the south, the timing is perfect as his childhood housekeeper (and the only person who ever really took care of and loved him) has just died, and he was planning to go to her funeral.
The book then goes back and forth between 2 "storylines": The first storyline is the 12 articles, which are actually Strekfus's memories of a abusive yet funny and unusual childhood and his subsequent college years (the homes he writes of being the homes he and his relatives have lived in). The second storyline follows Strekfus's present life in New York. The storyline in New York focuses on his difficult relationship with his boss (who does not like the direction the articles has taken), his one friendship with a fellow southerner named Sharon, and Strekfus's struggle to remember the portions of his childhood he has blocked; but which seem to be threatening his sanity in a series of flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety attacks
What makes this book so spectacular?? I cannot even say enough here, but I will try: 1) The story itself. It is just riveting. It is funny at parts, disturbing at parts, and always fascinating and "un-put-down-able". I needed to know what had happened, why it had happened, what was going to happen next. 2) There was not one part of this book I skimmed, not one part that I didn't feel was worth reading. Often, books set in the present but filled with memories seem to tell a lot of childhood stories that just don't seem to interest me, and I find myself skimming them to get to the "real story". Not this book-it has 562 pages and not one is wasted on unnecessary detail (I like detail, but not when books spend 3 pages describing one tree!) or stories and descriptions that just don't seem to matter (a la The Corrections-how I'd spend hours reading the history of a salesperson or some other character, only to discover I would never see them in the book again and their history truly did not matter.). Not one page made me want to pass by it, just to get back to the story. Every single page was part of the story: every description, every line, every single word!!! 3) The connections. Every character in this story re-appears at some point. It is fascinating trying to put together the connections, and the amazing thing about McCrae's writing is you never have to go back to do so. You know how in some books the author bring up someone who seemed minor 200 pages later, and you have to go back to remember what exactly he said about this seemingly fleeting character way back in the book?? Not so with this book, every word is so memorable that I never once had to go back and check on past references and characters, even though there are are tonnes of characters!! 4) Lots of metaphors and anagrams, if you want them. If you are a reader who likes to look past the story, this is a great book for you. Almost every name in the book is an anagram. Every story in the book has a hidden reference or meaning (many relating to Truman Capote). There are Helen Keller quotes at the beginning of every chapter, as her coming out of darkness and silence to discover the world mirrors Strekfus's discoveries of himself. Even so, though these anagrams and metaphors are there-if you are a reader who chooses to focus on the obvious story, you can. Some books are so caught up in metaphor and imagery that you cannot get through it and just read the story (Ondaatje for example, whenever I read one of his books I wonder: what I am missing? I can just feel that I am missing a lot, and feel kinda dumb). This is not that kind of book at all. There is lots to think about behind the story if you want to, but if you just skip all that and read the book as it is, you'll still get a great story and not even realize you are missing out on something. 5) It is very funny at parts. Even though the story is serious, and some of the themes (racism, child abuse) are very serious, there are a lot of really funny descriptions and situations in this book. Strekfus's precocious and unusual childhood intelligence and manner, his mother's neurosis, his father's detachment, his boss's temper and his college antics all provide some very very humorous lines and scenes. SUPER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
August 26, 2012
Could not really get into it - - it was a book club book. I know there were several of us who just had a hard time mucking our way through this book. At the meeting, it was revealed that there is a scene later in the book which contains something so dark and (previously to my mind) unimaginable... I am happy I did not continue on with this book.
For those of you who have read the book, you'll know what event I mean. For those of you who have not read the book, I will not mention it here. While I do not pander to censorship, I cannot imagine why this event needed to be explored at all, in any work of fiction.
For those of you who have read the book, you'll know what event I mean. For those of you who have not read the book, I will not mention it here. While I do not pander to censorship, I cannot imagine why this event needed to be explored at all, in any work of fiction.
October 26, 2009
I enjoyed the quirkiness of this story, and parts of it certainly made me chuckle. The author's overuse of adjectives was sometimes tiresome, and it's too bad his editor didn't strike the majority of them. I've always loved southern fiction and tales of dysfunctional families, and this book certainly delivered.
The author's style of writing was unusual, and, along with the symbolism, the Capote connections were an interesting touch.
The author's style of writing was unusual, and, along with the symbolism, the Capote connections were an interesting touch.
January 15, 2011
I just couldn't handle it- I can't read books where the child protagonist is given an adult voice. To me, it makes the entire premise unreliable. And annoying. There were snippets of excellent writing in this memoir, but overall FAR too much detail about every step taken. Does every step need to narrated? I read only to chapter 5.
December 11, 2007
This is a beautifully written book which touches on racism, child abuse, and homophobia. As another reviewer said, it's both one of the funniest books you'll ever read and one of the most disturbing.
November 29, 2009
This book was different and some work, but like a classic novel, it finished well making it one of those you wont soon forget. You wont find in the bookstore unless they can locate it from a used book dealer. I believe its out of print !!
February 17, 2010
I could have done without the last scene with the dad, but overall, I liked the book. I vascillated between a 3 and 4. I thought he was very insight oriented and psychologically minded, which made me like the book. Good read, but not for the faint hearted.
June 10, 2011
My son bought me this book for Christmas one year (tradition to buy each other books). What a great surprise. Rich with characters and southern traditions. I then went on to read McCrae's Katzenjammer. Wow what a book. love, love this author
July 10, 2011
One of the best books I've ever read-and I just stumbled across it. FABULOUS southern fiction. Multilayered story. A true find. Can't say enough about it. Hilarious and somewhat dark. Harper Lee meets Sedaris.
January 3, 2012
I've never come across anything as badly written or as badly in need of an editor in my life. I finished it, but I don't know why. After that, I threw it into the trash. I didn't feel it necessary to pass along to any of my friends who like to read as I didn't want to waste their time.
August 7, 2007
I belly laughed out loud! Hysterically funny!
January 3, 2008
I'm going to write a bit about this later today
September 3, 2007
a really good book
March 28, 2008
TOTALLY dark and depressing. Alot of abuse that actually had me re-reading sections to be sure I was understanding the extent of it. Not for the faint of heart or easily depressed about life.
August 29, 2011
Very dark but very interesting. His use of anagrams throughout was fun but a little distracting. I loved the vivid descriptions of New Orleans.
September 11, 2008
I enjoyed this book a lot; but sometimes I was a little uncomfortable with it. He really wrapped it up nicely at the end and answered all my questions. It was an interesting story.
February 5, 2011
After stumbling upon this novel at the local library, I wasn't sure what to expect... I was blown away. Could not put it down. Happy I found it; sad there aren't more like it!
February 14, 2009
loved this book
December 12, 2010
Fun book, but overly long. Nice and quirky, laugh out laugh type of memories and story.
May 5, 2013
I loved this book - it's quirky and had me laughing out loud!
April 5, 2014
I read this many years ago. I agree that it was initially difficult to get into but it was so worth it at the end. Truly a book that has stuck with me all these years.
November 28, 2014
A good read, but fizzled out at the end. There was also one horrific scene that I could have lived without. I agree with the reviewer who said that the author just went too far.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews