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The Clearing
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The Clearing: Initial Impressions, February 2014
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I finished the book (very) late last night and am still haunted by the characters and their stories. This is the first time I ever read Tim Gautreaux's work. And think so far that he did a great job with this particular book. His writing is harsh and powerful, violent but filled with humanity.
Just started this weekend. Really liking it thus far!
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quick question is this clearing by heather or tim
I was trying to get the book but 2 books by 2 diffrent people came up. one by heather and other one by tim.
wihhc one do i need to get thanks.
I was trying to get the book but 2 books by 2 diffrent people came up. one by heather and other one by tim.
wihhc one do i need to get thanks.
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I was trying to get the book but 2 books by 2 diffrent people came up. one by heather and other one by tim.
wihhc one do i need to get thanks."
Tim Gautreaux Erika I think you will like this book. I still lack about 40% of the book but enjoyable read so far.
thanks that makes things easier
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
"...his stovepipe arms suggested that he'd cut his way to Nimbus. His skin was hot, satin black of a locomotive, and his eyes were crimson..." Such detail for a minor character. The author paints such vivid imagery on every page. And something happens on every page. The writing does prevent you from reading too fast but it certainly isn't boring or slow-moving. Take your time with this one and enjoy.
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Agree, I wanted to read fast to see what happens next but the details force a slower pace. Very good reading selection this month!
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I've had Gautreaux on my shelf for far too long. I'm looking forward to the read. I'm deep into The Keepers of the House today.
Mike
The upside-down shield that the deputy wore, does anyone know what that means or might represent?
Got my used copy from Thriftbooks in the mail today and just read the first chapter. I like a book with short chapters so maybe The Clearing has that in its favor right off the bat. I am also hopeful that, judging from the fact that a few readers have already chimed in this first week, this might be like reading a book with a real group. That would sure be fun!
Jim wrote: "This book describes a world and a unique people that I got a taste of when I was a merchant seaman, working on an oil tanker in the early 80's. About half the crew were Cajuns ..."The online interview that you reference (http://www.southernspaces.org/2009/in... fascinating, just a guy talking about his writing based on his life experience:
I don't think of myself as any particular type of writer. I am what I am. I was born in a certain area of the country, and the people around me happen to speak a certain way and have a certain set of values, and pursue a certain type of lifestyle, and that's all I know. That's where I draw my characters; that's where I draw my dialogue, my sense of timing, my values. If I were raised in some other area, naturally, I would be drawing on some other set of characters and culture. So I don't think that I have to ennoble or expose a particular type of culture. I don't feel a particular duty to region. I just weave narrative out of where I'm from.
More from the online interview:GAUTREAUX: Many of the uncles in my family were in World War I, and they all came back with their stories, and I heard a lot of them. The Clearing, of course, is about this damaged veteran who returns shell-shocked. I had an uncle that was in all eight major American engagements and endured some horrible things. And I knew what it was that he endured through family stories and through talking with him because he lived to be quite old. I knew him many, many years. Of course he was very unlike the character in The Clearing, but nevertheless I could draw on the psychological damage that I witnessed in him to develop the Byron character in that novel.
See more at: http://www.southernspaces.org/2009/in...
Maybe you have read the interview by now so you can just skip this. But maybe you are not going to read the interview so I'll just butt in and give you another chunk that I think is interesting. I wonder what we "Southern novel experts" will wind up thinking about whether this is a Southern novel?GAUTREAUX: The point of view characters are the two outlanders from Pennsylvania. That was done to open up the novel to all readers so that we wouldn't have so much a hermetically sealed, southern novel with southerners looking at southerners. We have a novel in which these northerners are looking at the culture and the people down here, and the readers in Minnesota or Oregon or Canada look at things through the main characters' eyes. The non-southern point of view makes The Clearing less of a southern novel, and I think improves it, broadens it.
- See more at: http://www.southernspaces.org/2009/in...
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Diane,
I agree with your comments, I too loved the book and loved the memorable characters. As a female I thought the wives were very strong characters putting up with alot. To the point they were almost too good and too accommodating to there spouses and surroundings. They seemed so accepting of all the circumstances.
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Laura wrote: "As a female I thought the wives were very strong characters putting up with alot. To the point they were almost too good and too accommodating to there spouses and surroundings. They seemed so accepting of all the circumstances."I hope it turns out that this guy writer wrote strong women characters. That would be a treat to see a guy writer do that. But I am sorry to say that Laura's words don't make me think of strong women: putting up with, accommodating, accepting. But the setting of the story makes me think that we are going to have macho guys up the proverbial wazoo.
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Diane wrote: "Larry, sometimes putting up with and accepting takes more strength than you know."I do think that macho men require some putting up with and accepting - especially with their weaknesses! But is that a good thing? I am looking forward to seeing how this story sorts that out.
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Laura wrote: "Where do we talk about book without worrying about spoiling it for anyone?"Maybe someone could briefly describe what a spoiler is? On the one hand, telling how a story ends is an obvious spoiler but it seems like discussing character development (e.g. strong women) is not spoiling anything but would give something to think about while reading. I think that classifying information as a spoiler can inhibit some good discussion.
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I have solved the short term problem by creating a Spoilers Welcome comment section! Spoil away freely.
Debbie wrote: "The upside-down shield that the deputy wore, does anyone know what that means or might represent?"During Vietnam some of us put the flag stamp on letters upside down as a distress signal. Even today some of us, when stuck with a flag stamp, will put it on upside down. I guess a symbol for the law upside down might be similar.
By the way, the Spoilers Welcome comment section is doing some business for those who might be interested in some fear free words.
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Yep. Diane, you're absolutely right. Consider it a facet of the aging process. My thanks to Larry for setting up the discussion topic. I'm still into The Keepers of the House and loving it.
Mike
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Thank you, Sir!
Mike
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My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I'll look forward to your review when I've completed my read. And, so, on to the book.
Mike
Larry, I'm one of those who out flag stamps on upside down ;) though now I do it because of Guantanamo...
Larry wrote: "Debbie wrote: "The upside-down shield that the deputy wore, does anyone know what that means or might represent?"During Vietnam some of us put the flag stamp on letters upside down as a distress ..."
Thanks, Larry. I like that explanation, seems more relevant. The only thing I came up with was in regards to an 1891 New Orleans PD Superintendent who was pinned upside down with the comment, "Now you will stand out," and it went on to become a tradition.
what I really like about this book is the plot and people in the book.
Jim wrote: "Just passed the century mark....I sort of get that these are really violent people who are fond of shooting and maiming each other. Hoping the story takes off soon!"As I recall you are at the section where WWI is in full force and "takes off" might be an understatement.
On the Southern Literary Trail
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The Keepers of the House (other topics)The Keepers of the House (other topics)
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Tim Gautreaux (other topics)Tim Gautreaux (other topics)
Mike