The Fires of Spring

The title "The fires of spring" to me ended up as a metaphor for this book. A story of a young man who grew up in a poorhouse among old men and his journey through life and the passions of his desires. It was an interesting journey to take with David Harper, the main character and to see how the lessons he learned along the way, as well as the people he met who guided him to find peace in who he was and what he wanted out of life. While reading this book, I wonder how much of this is a reflection on James Michener's life. Some of the events seem similar to his journeys. It also was interesting to me as the setting of the book, Bucks County is near where I grew up so the places are real and the story is believable.

the thing about michener is that when he's good, he's so very good. and when he's not, well he's really not. this isn't an irredeemable book, which is why it doesn't get .5 stars, but this really is not well done. he gives all of these very important and worthy life lessons, but all in a jumble and with his main character unable to process much of what was going on (but michener seemed to think he was growing). the transitions were particularly terribly written, and there were problems with time continuity throughout.

this was just such a slog with only a few decent points and characters. and michener can do so much better.

David Harper is an orphan who is raised by his Aunt Reba who is a very unhappy woman. She ran a poorhouse for men who were downtrodden. David learns much from these men who take him under their wing to protect him from his Aunt. Eventually he joins a troop of actors who are traveling around the USA performing a Chautauqua.

He falls in love with a couple of women one of whom is Mona Meigs, an aspiring actress who uses him whenever she is out of money or finds another man who she thinks can take her further in her career. Marcia Paxson is the other love of his life who is a Quaker and thus struggles with his life style and her religious beliefs.

Early in his life, he works in a carnival as a barker and we learn much about the life of a show more carny in a 1920's carnival especially the illegal activities of the carnies.

The novel started out slowly but eventually it was difficult to put it down and gives a wonderful picture of the activities of a traveling theatre troop in 1920's America. show less

I really loved this book and it's the one that got me started on Michener. I discovered after subsequent readings of his autobiographical books and other biographies about him, that this story is largely based on his own early life. It is a youth's "voyage of discovery", to steal from the cover notes, and it is enthralling.

Somewhat, Bildungsroman