Initial Impressions: Cool Hand Luke, by Donn Pearce - July 2022

[Sara]

Cheryl I completely believe that the war experiences are drawn from either his own experience or things he heard from others who had seen them. I can imagine how this would eat at you, but I was surprised that he allowed it to change him so basically as to take "his turn".

Diane A very mischievous child, I imagine, but the kind you chastise but have to turn your back so that they won't see you are laughing. Sadly, it would seem his religious upbringing was a double-edged sword.

Paul Newman singing Plastic Jesus in the movie:
https://youtu.be/xNtftzGqrmY

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Thanks for that Sara. I remembered that from the movie and was trying to think of the words the other day.

[Howard]

When I joined Goodreads years ago I shelved "Cool Hand Luke," which I had not read for many years before that, and from a sketchy memory I gave it 4 stars.

Now that I have done a reread I believe I unjustly underrated it. It deserves 5 stars and it belongs on my "favorites" shelf-- and that's where it is headed..

[Sara]

I did that, Howard, rating books from years ago. I love when I re-read them and find they were even better than I thought. This was my first read, but it earned those 5-stars!

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

That's why I try to review books immediately after reading them, because relying on memory at my age is unreliable.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Terry wrote: "There are, or at least recently, women in chain gangs, in Arizona. Google Chain Gang Girls for videos."

How has Quentin Tarantino NOT made a movie about this yet?

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

It looks like I'm the last one to the party. I've read the first six chapters and am really enjoying it. It is so easy to picture Paul Newman as Luke, ripping the heads off of the parking meters.

[Terry]

Tom, I am only half through the book, so you aren’t very far behind me.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

I wouldn't call Pearce's prose poetic or lyrical or any other terms that reviews usually use in describing a book that they like. That said, though, his writing is spot-on. When you are reading a passage about a road crew and automatically reach up to wave mosquitoes away, you know that you found an author who can pull you out of your chair, through time and space, into the world he's describing. That, gentle readers, is called talent.

[Howard]

Tom wrote: "I wouldn't call Pearce's prose poetic or lyrical or any other terms that reviews usually use in describing a book that they like. That said, though, his writing is spot-on. When you are reading a p..."

Tom, I'd say that is indeed high praise for a debut novel by a thirty-something, high school dropout, ex-con.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

With the heat and humidity we are experiencing this summer, it took very little for me to imagine being on that road crew. Slapping away mosquitos doesn't even require imagination. But you're right Tom, Pearce was a very talented writer.

[Janice (JG)]

CHERYL wrote: "Diane wrote: "Luke's wartime memories and stories were not part of the movie, as I recall. If Hollywood had to cut something, that was probably the right decision. Those experiences had a lot to do..."

So, about those wartime memories... and his participation in the abuse of civilians... (should I save that for the "final impressions" board?)

I will say here, though, that Pearce is an absolute artist, tying us right into Luke's shoes. I was very much able to "feel" the frenzy of those wartime moments, the desperation, the anger at the higher ups and their sometimes confusing and inhumane decisions. The quick-sand suck into self-medication, clouded judgement, group psychology and peer pressure and mental exhaustion..."

I also thought the whole scene about the wartime memories was done beautifully... the thought of the banjo accompaniment in the background of that long stream of consciousness paragraph was perfect and perfectly done. The reason I could accept and allow for the circumstances was dependent on the whole feeling of a minstrel story, and the idea of the constant strumming provided enough distance that I could read it as a story memory rather than as horrific and brutal events (tho that too). I couldn't get over how well Pearce had done that - he made me hear the music tho' I was only reading the words.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

I think I'm last to the party, my copy arrived today and I'm seven chapters in. It's very good.

[Sara]

Glad you have it, Dave. Worth the wait.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

We'll wait for you Dave.

[Howard]

Janice (JG) wrote: "CHERYL wrote: "Diane wrote: "Luke's wartime memories and stories were not part of the movie, as I recall. If Hollywood had to cut something, that was probably the right decision. Those experiences ..."

Janice, I had the same reaction to the way that Pearce was able to reveal Luke's war experiences. I don't know that I have ever read anything exactly like that before.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

It occurred to me that I have very little recollection of the film. I only seen it once and that was a very long time ago. The only scene I remember is the boiled egg eating, and that's the chapter I've just finished reading. The writing is tremendous , briefly it reminded me of Denis Johnson, and praise doesn't come much higher than that.

[Sara]

You are in for a treat when you watch it again, Dave. I would love to see it afresh, but I have watched it so many times that there are no surprises for me in even the expression on a face.

I have never read Denis Johnson, but I have Train Dreams on my TBR. I will have to seek it out sooner instead of later.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

The boiled egg scene is remembered by everyone!

[Terry]

CBS Sunday Morning just did a piece on a new documentary about Newman and Woodward. In it, there is a clip from Cool Hand Luke. You can see it on You Tube:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HIf2IvI...

[Howard]

Thanks for that, Terry.

I'm amazed that the marriage lasted as long as it did, but I am not surprised that there were rough patches on the way. And why not, I have known some great marriages, but never a perfect one.

[Sara]

Makes me wish I got HBO. :o)