The Last of the Savages

by Jay McInerney

Following the success of Brightness Falls--"his most ambitious novel" (The Boston Globe)--Jay McInerney now gives readers a sweeping story of a friendship as complex as it is abiding. Interweaving deeply personal dilemmas and the politics of race, sex, family, and society, The Last of the Savages moves from New England to the deep South and beyond, from the fevers of youth to the uneasy truths of middle age.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Music, American, Literature, Ebooks, Historical

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

John Barrett McInerney Jr. is an American writer. His novels include Bright Lights, Big City, Ransom, Story of My Life, Brightness Falls, and The Last of the Savages. He edited The Penguin Book of New American Voices, wrote the screenplay for the 1988 film adaptation of Bright Lights, Big City, and co-wrote the screenplay for the television film Gia, which starred Angelina Jolie. He is the wine columnist for House & Garden magazine, and his essays on wine have been collected in Bacchus & Me (2000) and A Hedonist in the Cellar (2006). His most recent novel is titled The Good Life, published in 2006.

Reviews

[Schmacko · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The act of friendship is God’s way of apologizing for our families.”

That’s how this lovely book starts, and by the end, I was thoroughly confused and amazed as to why this isn’t considered a modern classic. I was truly affected by this novel, so much so that I read the book twice straight through. I even got emotional. Both times.

This powerful novel follows Patrick Keane and his 30-year friendship with John, the last in a line of rebellious southern gentlemen surnamed Savage. The plot clearly borrows from Evelyn Waugh’s classic Brideshead Revisited, but it also creates a story entirely its own.

Patrick longs for the pedigree and history John has. John fights his Memphis upper-crust upbringing by running a gambling racket to fund his production of poor black musicians. Patrick slaves to escape from his middle-class beginnings into the upper echelons of respectable Wall Street society. John hopes to free himself and others from the stifling classicm of his past. Patrick subjugates his own longings for acceptability. John marries a black woman and starts on a world tour of excessive sex, drugs and rock and roll.

That these two are friends who come to trust and depend on each other so intimately is the power than binds this tale. Through the Kennedy assassination, 60s race riots, war protests, hippie movement, drug-binged 70s, and me-ist 80s, these two best friends alternately challenges and accepts each other. What’s most compelling is how, over 30-plus years, these two people change, despite and because of each other.

By the emotional end of this novel, my sturdy objectivity was completely gone, and I was actually choking up. I am giving this paperback copy to Sarah French and starting a search for a permanent hardcover version for myself.

You’ll probably have trouble finding this book, too, but it’s definitely worth the hunt.

[Amanda Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought McInerney may take a politically correct stance here.
Why would I think that? I don't know. It's just that so many authors are prepared to sacrifice the real story for something more socially acceptable.
He doesn't and the book is brilliant.

[Dennis Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story about a wealthy Southerner and his friend who yearns for class and stature spans an entire generation but puts its focus on the sins of the 1960s. It tackles a bit much—race, the Civil War, family, biracial relationships, aging, repressed homosexuality, music and more. The writing didn’t sparkle quite as much as McInerney’s books about the excesses of the ‘80s, but this bleak and sad novel still makes a strong case that the world we live in doesn’t grow, change or evolve as much as we do.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely had no idea what to expect, I'd never read any other book written by this author and I was kind of pleasantly surprised. The story handles many topics like the strangeness of friendship, family, rebellion, looking for conformity, love, bi-racial relationships and racism. Some of those topics I could easily relate to and touched me, but there are also a lot of funny moments that made me laugh.
The story is easy to read, written in a pleasant way and set in mainly Memphis where I have been twice and that brought back nice memories. Actual rating 3,5 stars.

What grabbed me was the first line of the book which is also my favorite: “The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families.”

Patrick first meets Will at a prep school where they room together. Patrick dreams of conformity and Will of rebellion. Let's say that opposites attract. Will is the last in a line of a dysfunctional Southern family. He's reckless, doesn't care about fitting in, practices Buddhism, diggs the blues and is all about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. He's everything that Patrick is not, but still they become good friends. Their friendship progresses through marriages, trauma, twists of fate and Wills outrageous behaviour.

In the end I believe that their friendship made them both better people. For me in spite of a lot of bad things that happen, it had a positive vibe and ending.

[Patrick McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read a Jay McInerney novel since college, but I recently picked up The Last of the Savages at a used bookshop. It proved to be a good diversion. It is the life story of two friends from dissimilar backgrounds that met in prep school and represent two distinct lifestyles through the turbulent 60s, 70s, and 80s. The southern bred R&B producer/star maker Will Savage, who is from a Southern family with skeletons in the closet, and Patrick Keane a scholarship boy from a lower class Boston family who has traditional hopes and dreams that he hopes will be attained through the earning of Ivy League degrees. I found the character of Will Savage to be a bit cliché and over-the–top, and found the Patrick Keane story to be more interesting and complex. Not a great novel, but a good one for sure.

[Dorian Thornley · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason, I've read a lot of this guys books and no Bret Easton Ellis, go figure. I didn't like this one as much as the others, the first half felt like an essay on race relations in the south in the sixties, the characters were just convenient players used to explore the themes in the book. I did not find that I could really get behind Savage as a compelling character, I just had to take the narrator's word for it that he was charismatic and interesting. The narrator, Patrick, turned out to be more interesting; kinda sorta gay but not really, it was a good job of explaining a very complex sexuality. Like, I imagine, Irving's In One Person will be when I get around to reading that. God there are so many books I want to read, it's really overwhelming.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Great Gatsby” leapt, in the second half of 20th century, when free market capitalism grew mature, and slave built America accumulated rich narratives, an American saga.
Two main characters were constructed interdependent. Free Will, with all his mighty flamboyant, touched me the most with his vulnerability. Pragmatic (conventional(=) Patrick, also as the narrator (not a spectator), whose development was undercurrent with the tides and time, in vain, sometimes desperate and constantly sarcastic, makes the book insidiously stand out.
My praise is partial to author’s writing style, no phrase/passage is wasted without humor, critic, pun, or induce a cackle at turn of event, to ridicule our nature, and to cherish.

[Sarah Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely went a bit over my head at some parts but the relationship between Patrick and Will is definitely going to stick with me. I'd quite like to revisit this one.

[Jeffreyreeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really builds; revealing itself in its final chapters. A powerful and unique novel that stands apart from McInerney's other work. It's a slow read in some ways and it relies on summary more than probably any book I've read, but manages to poignantly cover three-plus decades in a man's life in less than 300 pages--and much of the story is concerned with the protagonist's best friend, Will Savage and Will's father Cordell. I thought that the most well-drawn relationship was between Cordell and our narrator Patrick, and those scenes stand out as the most memorable. Race relations in the South and the collision of black and white music of the sixties end up not being the prominent themes of the book (as promised in its early chapters) and instead become wallpaper for a book about success, romantic failure and the inexplicable, wide gap between us and the people we are closest to; including ourselves. Not a perfect book by any means; it may not fit your criteria for a masterpiece, but it's well worth reading by almost any metric.

[Tony Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine novel by an author I'm belatedly beginning to appreciate. Though less than 300 pages long it's densely written with a number of underlying themes. The main narrative is a lifelong relationship between two roommates, the polar opposite of each other yet each determined to maintain the friendship, however fractious and fragmented. Though covering 30 years the book majors on the formative 5-6 years as both men struggle to find their way in the world: one a fearless southern visionary and instinctive rebel, the other a cautious, suppressed conventionalist.

For much of its length it's hard to understand how this mismatched pair would even want to remain friends, but the author is content to take his time fully revealing his characters, especially the enigmatic narrator Patrick. By the end of the book you begin to understand the necessary yin and yang of their bond and the glue that holds it together.

There's much more to this book than that however. It's also a study of the turbulent socio-political times of the 60s and 70s, particularly it's effect on the American South as the plotting mostly concerns the rebellious Will's complex, destructive relationship with his entitled Old South family. J McI, who clearly knows a bit about Southern history, character and culture, captures all this elegantly and with his usual dry wit.

By the end this has become a rather moving book, delivered without melodrama or sentimentality and all the more effective for it. Each man has come to terms with himself and has a better understanding of the other. And there's a clever, ironic little coda that finishes it off satisfactorily.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I'm surprised by what I find in my own little library. I've tried to make a list of everything I own, (goodreads has helped with that endeavor) but I have so far failed at being complete. The Last of the Savages is one of those curious books, I found it the other week. I don't remember buying it, nor why, but the sticker on the back revealed that I had bought it used at a Long's Drug store. Not my typical place to purchase books, so another surprise. Perhaps I picked it up because it was something outside of the more commonly found romance or crime thriller book. In any case I am glad I did, and that I gave the book a chance.

This may be the best written book I've read all year. There's subtly, surprise and not a lot of gimmick. It's a book that you read and think this writer is someone who will be remembered. But honestly I haven't heard of Jay McInerney before, and now feel like I had missed him somehow. I will definitely look for more of his books.

The book is about male friendship, two young boys meet at a prep school. One aspires to rise above his roots and wishes he had the background of his roommate Will Savage, who is from an established Southern family who wants to not just shake things, up but to tear it apart. These two are opposites and yet they remain friends through three decades, the 60's through the 80's. History is weaved well into the story and the switching of time from present to remembrances is well done. A lot goes on in the book, and the way it is told could easily have been confusing or gone awry, but McInerery is someone who knows the craft of writing and tells a good tale.

[Katerlio · Rating 2 out of 5]

the first 2/3 of this book is really good, draws you in and tells a compelling story with well-formed intriguing characters - and the last 1/2 is mediocre. the tone becomes preachy, and he loses conficence that you can draw the obvious connections yourself and takes all the fun out of it. not terrible, but disappointing.

[Alec MacRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly one of the best written books I have ever read.

[Blane Worley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bah. A year ago, I read Model Behavior and had reached the peak of McInerney’s oeuvre, looking through the mist, convinced I’d yet a ways to climb.

My interest in Jay started when I’d picked up Brightness Falls and devoured it in a few days. It shined, the story had lifted me. It may not have been perfect, but it led me to pick up a few other novels in his portfolio. Ransom, Story of my Life, Bright Lights.

Model Behavior was, for me, as near to a perfect novel as I could hope. The story mirrored my life, my excesses and concessions, my spoiled and dying romantic affairs, my mimicry of a connection to my parents, and even if the epilogue was a bit tacked on, I was so dazed that I remember it fondly.

And Last of the Savages had sat on my shelf for 5 years before i picked it up.

For one, there’s a giant picture of Jay on the back of my edition that screams narcissism. Not that the author of a book doesn’t deserve a bit of self-love, but this picture is the ENTIRE BACK COVER, save for two nanometers at the margin.

More importantly, the synopsis just wasn’t intriguing. Granted, Bright Lights isn’t exactly an easy sell, but when a scattered pop-surrealist like McInerney takes his hand and crafts a memoir-like odyssey through a shit-ton of moral impetus that he may not have the qualifications or life experience to historically and accurately detail, it’s a bumfuck of a novel.

The language is so stilted and riddled with verbiage that english-speaking people haven’t adopted or learned in a few centuries. Although I am a sucker for a novelist who knows how to use a thesaurus, I don’t want to KNOW you used a thesaurus. Additionally, the character profiles are so bland. The only reason the reader ever knows anybody has an ounce of depth and personality is because the narrator says “I was intrigued that Will had an ounce of depth or personality.” We are constantly reminded that Will’s actions and gestures are not easy to predict or read, but mystery does not flesh out a character. You have to absolve the mystery.

Having read Ringolevio earlier this year, if you want a narcissistic, self-aggrandizing historically accurate memoir about civil rights era dogma on a coastal front, read RINGOLEVIO. Even with its flaws, it totally pinches this tryhard novel on the thigh. I don’t know what means, but I mean to say it is better. Pinches on the thigh. I’m standing by it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LAST OF THE SAVAGES is my first foray into the writing of Jay McInerney. I am shelving this as fiction and historical fiction as the story begins with the meeting of Will Savage and Patrick Keane at a New England prep school in 1965, then ambitiously covering the 30-year history of these two unlikely friends in 271 pages.

The Savages are an old-money family with roots in Memphis, Tennesee while Patrick, who narrates the tale, is from a working-class Irish Catholic family from Taunton, Massachusetts; the novel flashes between past and future delving into social issues (race, class, sexual repression) while examining the narrative of history as a repetitive entity. The friends' lives exemplify the divergent ways their generation was defined and shaped by social expectations, and the acceptance of or rebellion against those standards.

I found McInerney's narrative devices for covering this amount of time interesting, sometimes 'rule breaking' as is the case with authorial summarizing, which he made fine use of. I was given what I needed to fill in the gaps between time jumps while the light philosophical meanderings fed me enough puzzle pieces to fill in the gaps. The writing isn't always deep, but the work is fluent. I certainly enjoyed the read. I also believe that in our Instagram world, where a picture speaks a thousand words and many rather watch a film than read a book, "The Last of the Savages" would make a smashing film.

[Katherine Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last of the Savages by Jay McInerney

The Last of the Savages explores male friendship across the obstacles of social class, politics, and sexuality. While McInerney struggled to maintain a consistent focus in his plot, the book is wonderfully written & moving.

The main character Patrick Keane is an extremely dynamic character but can be defined by his crippling imposter syndrome. As a narrator and character, he rides an interesting middle line between Holden Caulfield and Nick Carraway. Will Savage, an eccentric and rebellious boy from an old Southern family, is the primary driver of the plot. Will serves as Patrick’s foil and his motivation throughout the book as he defies the conformity and status that Patrick desperately desires.

While Will and Patrick’s dynamic on its own is extremely engaging, the book grapples beautifully with the culture and dense history of Memphis, West Tennessee, and the Mississippi Delta. It displays the region’s flaws in a beautiful and holistic way, giving agency to Southerners where needed and acknowledging the historical beating and chaos that has plagued the region.

Overall this book was lovely and I would recommend if you like Salinger, Fitzgerald, or Southern lit.

[Stephen Dages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting book! My general assessment: McInerney had the resources - great writing ability and big ideas - but just couldn’t execute. It felt a bit all over the place, especially the second half of the book. There were sections that felt tangential and unneeded. It also felt like McInerney knew he had lost his way towards the end and tried to cover it up with impressive writing and technique (but a raisin covered in chocolate is still a raisin).

Outside of this impressive writing, there were some other pros: as someone who leans into life’s gray areas, I appreciated McInerney’s willingness to live there. I saw a white man grappling with inner identity conflict during the civil rights movement, which felt personal and authentic. And there were definitely moments of beauty and deep reflection on the human experience.

So, overall, the highs were high and the lows were low, resulting in the end to an aggressively average book.

[Steve Charters]

The tedious co-dependent posturings of a repressed homosexual in pursuit of the American Dream and a privileged self-indulgent drug addict with an Oedipus complex in pursuit of alternate realities. Significant parallels with 'The Great Gatsby' plus a touch of 'Auntie Mame'.

The prose is fluid and engaging; the research is too evident: and personally I consider any author who uses 'laves' to be suspect.

The preoccupation with Black-White politics in America is bizarre and unconvincing given the side-lining of the narrator's sexuality: vague hints through much of the novel and a final resolve to remain firmly closeted - so there is actually no character development. In the narrator's obsession with Will Savage he fails to reflect upon or disclose his own inner life.

[Hobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I didn't think it was a slow read in the least. I enjoyed the part of the book where they are in school the most, but the latter part of the book was also good due to the build up/ resolve of some of the key conflicts of the book. Drugs, sex, and rock and roll, or more so blues. I related to some of it, other aspects not so much, like homosexuality and racism. Luckily, no one theme was too dominant, and the story itself was never overshadowed by any particular message the author wanted to get across.

[Joe Mossa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like jay s books. this is the 3rd one i have read and i have two more in line. i enjoyed this and the comparisons to fitzgerald seem appropriate. it is as if f.s.f lived longer and became more experienced and mature. i always like books about schools, prep, yale. one character reminded me of aretha franklin and another of sean combs. the people reremain life long friends , staying friends through troubles and good times.

[Scott Melton · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a bloodline tied to Memphis, TN this book was particularly luring for me. It’s the story of a beautiful, yet complicated friendship between two boys that extends through a complicated time for our country into their adulthood. The perfect mix of southern heritage and debauchery in the age of the blues and rock n roll, it tells the story of two different paths in life that everyone can relate to. 10/10

[Nick Beach · Rating 4 out of 5]

An especially slow read. It isn't always easy but I always found it charming and intelligent. The main character/narrator Patrick seems kind of a nothing in the first half and becomes much more important in the back half as life goes on for these two friends. The last couple chapters made me question my life choices and my mortality if though those things weren't called into question enough. I'm ok I promise.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was decent. There were large sections full of unnecessarily large words that made portions of it difficult to read. Not that I didn't know what the words meant, just that it mucked up the flow. There's an unresolved and unnecessary story line about a co-worker that didn't make much sense. I loved the story of the friendship - but some of the wordiness and sidebars got in the way.

[Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

If it doesn’t all quite add up in the end, and who can claim with authority that it ever will, McInerney’s moral decency leads the reader towards compassion and the promise of eternal glory. Not too bad.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second favorite McInerny book.

[Lisa San Martín · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a bit of a slog. I struggled to care about the trials of a trio of privileged white men.

[Robert Salter · Rating 1 out of 5]

poorly written with many embarrassing sentences that are corny and clunky. obviously did not receive a lot of editing, if any. fyi like everyone, i loved BRIGHT liGHTS, and i liked MODEL BEHAVIOR.

[Kailin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will is this novel’s Tad Allagash… no matter how fucked up, we all want to be him even though we are all more like Patrick.

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was even the sub plot i was confused ....

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is thirty years out of date, doesn’t hold up to the current sociopolitical climate. But it was well written, had some amusing moments, and surprised me at the end.