Packard, a war hero returning from the Pacific Theater, joins the police force in Southern California. It seems, though, he has returned in a kind of personal fog, or limbo. Outward signs are that he's only interested in sensations, wants to test various things to see if he can feel an emotion. He golfs with some lowlifes, but meets a black caddy named Lionel - called "Train" - who, it turns out, is also a brilliant golfer.

This is a book about racial prejudice and segregation in Southern California after the War. The blurb on the back cover is true: Pete Dexter's writing cuts to the bone. There are no holds barred here. Packard takes justice into his own hands - good thing too, because it's one of the few areas where he can exercise reliable judgment. Packard, called "Miles Away Man" by Train, is finally snapped back into the human race when after a tumultuous argument with his wife, she shoots his lower leg with a shotgun, after which he finally shows emotion and breaks down into tears.

"Train" is hard-edged, honest, and deft at the same time. Dexter is a virtuoso. Pick this up and read it - I assure you you won't regret it. ( )

Excellent characters, interesting story, and, although set in Southern California, these are all "Philly people." Dexter was a columnist for the Philadelphia Bulletin. Highly recommended, but quite a bit of violence, and an intense rape scene. Jim, 8/11/06 ( )

National Book Award winner (for Parris Trout), Pete Dexter has just written a darkly disturbing novel set in Los Angeles circa 1953. Almost every turn in the plot served to make this reader uncomfortable even while many of the turns of phrase wowed me. Race, sex, corruption, and golf are some of the themes that Dexter weaves into his noir tale featuring the thoughts and deeds of three major characters: Lionel “Train” Walk -- a contemplative black teenaged golf prodigy with a green thumb; Miller Packard-- a World War II veteran turned police sergeant of means who is a disconnected thrill-seeker; and Nora Still -- a rape victim who comes to question many of her old values as she is entrained in Packard’s surreal, numb whirlwind of a life in what seems an attempt to either destroy or heal herself. [draft - ~ 140 words] ( )

recommended by Po Bronson @ http://www.pobronson.com/index_books_... ( )