James Dickey (1923–1997)

I picked up this book while perusing the stacks at the University of Virginia bookstore when I was a student back in 1986. I was acquainted with Dickey's work from my 1st year American Lit course, but his writing didn't do much for me. But, still, I was interested in poets and what made them tick, their writing process, etc., so I read a couple of pages of this book and immediately bought it, went home and devoured it. I've since read parts of it many times, and always find something deeper show more to ponder. I also found more appreciation for Dickey's brand of poetry. This little book has everything for anyone who is interested in writing, or any other art.

"...in our technology-dominated world the value of literature is getting harder and harder to maintain, but it must be maintained if we're going to have any humanity left at all." p.51
This was written over 50 years ago. Look at where technology is today. Holy smokes! Fortunately, we haven't done too bad holding on to the arts. It's a battle. Keep fighting. show less

This is our American Robinson Crusoe, a successor to Walden, Moby-Dick, and "Big Two-Hearted River," and a novel with the most original voice since True Grit. Every page has at least one satisfying or arresting turn-of-phrase. It’s thrilling, disturbing, provoking, beautiful, suspenseful—everything a novel should be. I can’t do it justice, nor can I remember a time in recent memory when I was so awestruck by a novelist's performance. This one will stay with me for a long time.

Imagine, if you can, you're an American air force tail-gunner flying over enemy territory, Japan during WWII. Your plane is hit, on fire, and spirals toward the earth. All your crew-mates are dead. If not for the parachute you religiously taped to the bulkhead, you'd soon be a goner, too. Instead, you make it safely back to earth, where men belong anyway. What would you do now?
James Dickey gives us an account of one possibility through one of his strangest, and best creations, Muldrow, a man show more raised in the Alaskan wilderness of the 1920s and 30s, and appropriately named after an Alaskan glacier.
Early on in his predicament of being totally on his own in the land of the enemy, Muldrow makes his plan to head North. If he can make it to the White sea, to the beloved snow and ice of his childhood, he knows he can survive and feel the comfort and freedom of home again.
The story of his trek is one of dreams, camouflage, and savagery. For some, this tale may become a bit too gruesome to take. There were scenes I wouldn't want to revisit. But, if you have the stomach for it, Dickey's prose is as razor sharp as the bread knife Muldrow carries.

"'It's a bread knife,' I told him. 'The only difference is that I brought the point on down and fine. The edge is good, too. Kitchen steel is good steel. As good as you can get.'
'Look,' I said, bending the knife almost double. The light from the roof bulb curved, wires and all, into the light of the blade. 'That means it won't break off. It's not like one of these stiff issue blades, like a bayonet or a commando knife, that ain't got any give to it. This one will bend, it'll go around.'
'Go around what?'
'Go around anything, say, like a rib. It'll go around and come back. It'll straighten out on the other side and keep on going.'"

This passage leaves a little to the imagination, but the description of its actual use is not for the faint of heart. Ghastly is the word I'd use.
If you're a fan of [b:Deliverance|592657|Deliverance|James Dickey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624579180l/592657._SY75_.jpg|1257919], you'll probably get along fine with this book, though it is not nearly as tight and well written.
Dickey repeats himself often, and becomes long-winded, particularly when Mulder describes animals, birds, and landscapes. About three-quarters into the book, he says,
"I was discouraged, I don't mind telling you. If the other island (his destination) didn't show pretty soon, I would be too weak and played out to get to it."
That's the way I felt about half-way through. Come on, James, get me there already, I'm dragging here.
Dickey revisits themes he explored so beautifully in his poetry, especially the connection between men and animals, and the relationship of hunter and prey.
I go back to my question, "What would you do in this situation?"
I have ideas about what I MIGHT do, but I tend to believe there's no way for any of us to know unless we were there. I'm fairly certain though, that we'd all surprise ourselves of what we may have to become in order to survive. show less

In which four suburban professionals with sagging machismo turn to a wilderness experience to restore their connection to the countryside and the authenticity of its residents. It strikes me as unfortunate that this book is best-known for the movie made from it, and, for that matter, that the movie is best-known for an unlikely hit song. As for the book, it is a full-tilt page-turner, one of the best you'll read, with a certain space left for rumination on the human condition, particularly show more its male portion. show less