paristexas's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
tatt_mucker's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sean_734's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
anamatopoeia's review against another edition
It’s just nowhere near the level of true grit
blevins's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to re-read a bunch of cult favorite Charles Portis in 2015 and have started with his short first novel, Norwood, a fiendishly funny book that is part sincere, part outlandish and charming as all get out. In fact, this remains one of the funniest books I've ever read, as the title character gets into all kinds of odd situations on his journey from Ralph, texas to New York City. Published in the mid 1960s, Portis perfectly captures the quirky ways of many, many people as they interact with one another. What sets the humor to another level is the straight-faced sincerity that Portis plays the comedy. It's kind of a Southern dead-pan with Norwood dealing with eccentrics and reacting to them with an earnestness that makes the comedy even more rewarding. What a debut.
rumbledethumps's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Charles Portis book I’ve read, and I’m still not completely sure what to think. It was hilarious in parts, witty in parts, and down right confounding in parts. The confounding part was basically the entire story (completely character driven) that just refused to conform to any sort of expected plot points. But the writing is so good that it didn’t matter.
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I enjoyed it enough to grab his more well-known books and keep exploring his work.
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I enjoyed it enough to grab his more well-known books and keep exploring his work.