Richard Ford (1) (1944–)

This is one of the best books I ever read in my life. I read the Sportswriter and although the writing was exceptional and story engrossing, disliked Frank Bascombe for his shallow detachment. In this novel he is so much more real as he attempts to communicate his troubled son. The setting, in Cooperstown and Oneonta is very familiar to me and dead one accurate. His attempt to relate to his son made me cry. In the midst of an unbelievable tragedy, someone calls him by name, and takes care of him...comforting, caring, for him. This Chirst- figure is his long lost Jewish step brother, Irv, who imparts wisdom of continuity, which finally impels Frank out of his Existence period back into real life.… (more)

This book picks up five or so years after the conclusion of [Sportswriter]. Frank Bascombe, now divorced, but still hankering after his ex-wife Ann, who has moved on and remarried, is no longer a sportswriter but a realtor in Haddam, New Jersey, living in the home previously owned by Ann. His now 15 year old son is having emotional problems and Frank has decided some quality father and son time is called for. He picks his son Paul up, to take him on a road trip, stopping at various Halls of Fame.
It is written in a similar style to the previous book, in that we have Frank ruminating on life in general and his in particular. I still struggle to like Frank and couldn't understand why he would choose Sports Halls of Fame to spend quality time with his son, when his son appears to have little or no sporting inclination. I, also, struggled to relate to the dialogue, it's verbosity. Do people or did people in the 1980's America talk like that. I struggled to follow these threads of conversation. I very much suspect, that the views expressed, provided a platform for the author's own voice, but for me they bogged the story down.
As in the previous book, the pace does pick up eventually and keeps you reading and I suspect I will get around to the next in the series...eventually. An interesting choice for the Pulitzer prize...… (more)

As it has been awhile since I read the last Frank Bascombe novel, I don't remember disliiking Frank as much as I did in this final novel in the series. The author does a masterful job of revealing what has become of Bascombe's character in this later stage of his own life, while dealing with the pressures of caring for his terminally-ill son and strained relationships with both his son and daughter. Still, Bascombe remains committed to the course, and the final chapters describing the trip to Mount Rushmore, and the aftermath of Paul's death, are tender indeed. A must-read for readers of the past Bascombe novels.… (more)