A review by coreyinscoe
Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
5.0
There's a part of me that wants to read this book again right now. Then I remember that it took me two months to read it in the first place.
The hardest thing about this book is how dense it is and how long, at least for me, it took to really get into the rhythm of the book. The prose is incredible, but it's also complex. It took me until I was deep into the book to really feel like I could appreciate how spectacular Thomas Wolfe's writing was. I think part of that is that you simply don't see books written in this way anymore.
This is a very good coming of age story, but the beauty of the novel is the way it's written, not necessarily the story itself.
And, as a North Carolina native, it was interesting to see his characterization of his home state and home town of "Altamont" (Asheville). As a Carolina grad, his descriptions and characterizations of the university in "Pulpit Hill" (get it) were also fascinating.
You should read this book, but, be warned, it's not easy. I want to go back and read it again. But not now. My brain needs a long rest.
The hardest thing about this book is how dense it is and how long, at least for me, it took to really get into the rhythm of the book. The prose is incredible, but it's also complex. It took me until I was deep into the book to really feel like I could appreciate how spectacular Thomas Wolfe's writing was. I think part of that is that you simply don't see books written in this way anymore.
This is a very good coming of age story, but the beauty of the novel is the way it's written, not necessarily the story itself.
And, as a North Carolina native, it was interesting to see his characterization of his home state and home town of "Altamont" (Asheville). As a Carolina grad, his descriptions and characterizations of the university in "Pulpit Hill" (get it) were also fascinating.
You should read this book, but, be warned, it's not easy. I want to go back and read it again. But not now. My brain needs a long rest.