Cormac mccarthys shadow may loom heavy across the prose, but the story this prose conveys, and the manner in which henderson unfurls it. There were times i had to set this aside, like those people who close their eyes to the evil parts of life. They are wretched and disenfranchised, victims who in turn victimize the most vulnerable. One imagines the consternation of gradeschool teachers coming to his spot in a. This is true for montana social worker pete snow, in smith hendersons debut novel fourth of july creek, but its even more true for most of his clients.
Of the mccarthyized faulknerian tics that prescott inventoried in 65, most are present here, though. Dec 26, 2014 henderson smiths tale of suffering and the hope of rescue in the northern west is on this critics short list of the years best fiction. Set primarily in rural montana from 1979 to 1981, the. On a gamble that seems sure to pay off, his publisher is releasing. In this shattering and iconic novel, smith henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community, grace, suspicion and anarchy, brilliantly depicting americas disquieting and violent contradictions. In this shattering and iconic american novel, smith henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community, grace, suspicion and anarchy, brilliantly depicting our nations disquieting and violent contradictions. Henderson smiths tale of suffering and the hope of rescue in the northern west is on this critics short list of the years best fiction.
Jul 10, 2014 smith henderson s stunning debut novel, fourth of july creek, explores these questions, offered up with a richness of character and language. I was drawn to fourth of july creek in a pile of proofs at the carlton office for no particular reason, and it turned out to be an exact fit for my current reading jag for the record. Pete is a social worker for the department of family services, working in tenmile, montana, at the beginning of the 1980s. Poverty and its terrible side effectsviolence, drugs, various strains of fanaticismplague his clients. Fourth of july creek by smith henderson, paperback. Pdf fourth of july creek by smith henderson download pdf. Fourth of july creek cannot possibly be smith hendersons first book. Possible ex library copy, thatll have the markings and stickers associated from the library. In this shattering and iconic american novel, smith henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community, grace, suspicion, and anarchy, brilliantly depicting our nations disquieting and violent contradictions. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fourth of july creek.
Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. Not literally of course, but his debut novel fourth of july creek received much critical praise and favorable comparisons to cormac mccarthy, richard ford and daniel. This stunning debut novel about broken lives in rural montana crackles with the intensity of. It was also a finalist for the 2015 pen center usa award for fiction, the james tait black prize. Smith henderson has delivered nothing less than a masterpiece of a novel. Smith henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community, grace, suspicion, and anarchy, brilliantly depicting our nations disquieting and violent contradictions. Fourth of july creek is an unforgettable, unflinching debut that marks the arrival of a major literary talent. His first novel, fourth of july creek, is the best book ive read so far this year.
Booklist fourth of july creek is an extremely dark book, but hendersons lyrical sentences lend an elegancean importanceto the lives of his fictional children. Once you start reading, there isnt a page youll want to miss. In smith hendersons fourth of july creek, pete snow is a social worker in rural northwest montana. Its scope is audacious, its range virtuosic, its gaze steady and true. In this shattering and iconic american novel, pen prizewinning writer, smith henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community, grace, suspicion and anarchy, brilliantly depicting our nations disquieting and violent contradictions. Fourth of july creek by henderson smith there should be fireworks shooting off for smith hendersons first novel, as it is a just cause for celebration. Ecco like those other admenturnednovelists peter carey and salman rushdie, henderson knows how to create the sensation that were being propelled. This uneven debut, set in 1980 montana, isnt always able to.
June 3, 2014 of wide open spaces and lives narrowly, desperately lived at the bitter ends of dirt and gravel roads. This detailed literature summary also contains quotes and a free quiz on fourth of july creek by smith henderson. Even if you havent read smith hendersons first novel fourth of july creek, you may still be familiar with some of his writing. Smith henderson, fourth of july creek smith hendersons debut novel is a brutal, gut wrenching story of the things we dont want to believe are true. Fourth of july creek wins montana book award books. Read a sample read a sample read a sample read a sample enlarge book cover. If you are looking for a serious, engrossing book with which to start your summer, fourth of july creek is where you should begin. Fourth of july creek doesnt live up to its janet maslin. Fourth of july creek is an extremely dark book, but hendersons lyrical sentences lend an elegancean importanceto the lives of his fictional children. Smith henderson is the author of the debut novel fourth of july creek ecco, a 2014 new york times notable book. Fourth of july creek is a masterful achievement and smith henderson is certain.
Smith hendersons debut novel, fourth of july creek, follows a social worker in montana in 1980 investigating a survivalists treatment of his son. He was a philip roth resident in creative writing at bucknell university, a pushcart prize winner, and a fellow at the michener center for writers in austin, texas. The novel depends for its life on the novels that have been written. All the parts of fourth of july creek, petes social work and his personal issues, have in common the desire for freedom.
The spur of the rockies at the northwestern corner of montana is as hard and remote a stretch of country as any in the lower 48, good reason why a person might want to disappear into it. Check out other translated books in french, spanish languages. Philipp meyer, new york times bestselling author of the son an impressive book deeply so. This is not to say that the subject matter is exactly festive, but the book is a triumph. A riveting story written in a seductive and relentlessly authentic rural american vernacular, this is the kind of novel i wish id written. Smith henderson made a splash in 2014 with fourth of july creek. At the edge of the montana wilderness, a social worker struggles to prevent his family from falling apart. This uneven debut, set in 1980 montana, isnt always able to sustain the interest of its opening.
Smith hendersons stunning debut novel, fourth of july creek, explores these questions, offered up with a richness of character and language. Philipp meyer, new york times bestselling author of the son fourth of july creek knocked me flat. Download the study guide pete is a social worker for the department of family services, working in tenmile, montana, at the beginning of the 1980s. In this shattering and iconic american novel, pen prizewinning writer, smith henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community. Smith hendersons is a dazzling new literary voice, and the release of this outstanding work is cause enough to light up the sky with bargesfull of. Fourth of july creek fojc was in my audible wish list for 8 months before i pulled the triggered and made the purchase. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Everything you need to understand or teach fourth of july creek by smith henderson. Smith hendersons fourth of july creek the new york times. June 3, 2014 of wide open spaces and lives narrowly, desperately lived at the bitter ends of dirt and gravel. His writing is brilliant, a word that may be overused but, in this case, is applicable. Fourth of july creek smith hendersonsmith henderson. By tenderly portraying horrible family secrets, henderson is able to illuminate the richness and possibility in even the most painful lives. This gorgeous, fullbodied novel seems to contain all of america at what was, in retrospect, a pivotal moment in its history.
Hes already got a pretty full plate between his current caseload and his rocky home life when a young boy wanders into a school, dirty and wildly undernourished. Fourth of july creek unfolds in 1980, starting just before the reagancarter presidential election. Theres a strange, meandering logic driving smith hendersons bighearted debut of a novel, fourth of july creek. Sometimes it feels like books find their own way to you. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text.
In this shattering and iconic american novel, smith henderson explores the. Henderson holds you gently but wont let you blink or look away. A novel reprint 20150325 paperback and read by smith henderson fourth of july creek. Mar 02, 2015 fourth of july creek is a masterful achievement and smith henderson is certain to end up a household name. The debut novel made a number of critics best books lists including the new york times 100 notable books of 2014 and is now.
One imagines the consternation of gradeschool teachers coming to his spot in a roll call. Jun 03, 2014 fourth of july creek by smith henderson. Smith hendersons debut novel, fourth of july creek, is the latest of these sprigs to emerge. And so i am going to make big demands on the widelyoverpraised smith hendersondemands that he has not met in his debut novel. After trying to help benjamin pearl, an undernourished, nearly feral elevenyearold boy living in the montana. Philipp meyer, new york times bestselling author of the son after trying to help benjamin pearl, an undernourished, nearly feral elevenyearold boy living in the montana wilderness, social worker pete snow comes facetoface. Born and raised in montana, he now lives in portland, oregon. Fourth of july creek couldnt put the book downread it in a big gulp over the 4th of july. May 27, 2014 fourth of july creek is an ambitious work. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. Smith hendersons debut novel, fourth of july creek, is the latest of these. Smith henderson is the recipient of the 2011 pen emerging writers award in fiction. Smith henderson creates a whole community in the forests of western montana, mostly seen through the eyes of pete snow, the sole representative of the department of family services.
Fourth of july creek is a masterful achievement and smith henderson is certain to end up a household name. It was the winner of the 2015 john creasy new blood dagger award and the 2014 montana book award. In this shattering and iconic american novel, pen prizewinning writer, smith henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community, grace, suspicion and. Fourth of july creek by smith henderson, 9780434022779, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Fourth of july creek, by smith henderson the washington post. Jun 27, 2014 smith hendersons debut novel, fourth of july creek, follows a social worker in montana in 1980 investigating a survivalists treatment of his son.
Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, may not be included. Henderson, a montana native who works for the ad agency wieden. Fourth of july creek is a gritty, disturbing, evocative. Fourth of july creek, a novel written by hellgate high school and university of montana graduate smith henderson, has won the 2014 montana book award. Jul 06, 2014 smith hendersons debut novel, fourth of july creek, is the latest of these sprigs to emerge. Fourth of july creek by smith henderson the new york times.
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