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Norwood

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'Norwood' by Charles Portis is a character-driven novel set in the 1960s South, following Norwood Pratt, a restless ex-marine who embarks on a road trip from Texas to New York. Throughout the journey, Norwood encounters a colorful cast of characters, including a surly bread delivery man, an educated chicken, and the girl of his dreams. The book is filled with deadpan humor, crisp writing, and witty dialogue, making it a hilarious and entertaining read that focuses on the journey rather than the destination.

Characters:

The characters are eccentric and vividly portrayed, contributing to the book's humor and charm.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by a humorous, down-to-earth narrative that employs crisp dialogue and deadpan humor.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around a character's journey catalyzed by personal and external conflicts, focusing on encounters and misadventures along the way.

Setting:

The setting is primarily in the rural South and New York City during the 1960s, influencing the characters and dialogue.

Pacing:

The pacing is relaxed and episodic, allowing character interactions and experiences to take precedence over a traditional narrative structure.
NORWOOD HAD TO GET a hardship discharge when Mr. Pratt died because there wasn’t anyone else at home to look after Vernell. Vernell was Norwood’s sister. She was a heavy, sleepy girl with bad posture....

Notes:

Charles Portis was born in 1933 in Arkansas.
He served as a Marine sergeant before becoming an author.
Portis is best known for his Western novel True Grit.
Norwood was published in the 1980s and is a road novel.
The main character, Norwood Pratt, is a 23-year-old ex-Marine and guitarist.
The story highlights quirky characters and humorous situations.
Norwood's sister brings home her new husband, creating tension in the household.
Norwood embarks on a journey due to his sister's marriage to an annoying man.
He meets odd companions, including an educated chicken and the world's smallest perfect fat man.
The book features a mix of deadpan humor and regional dialogue.
Set in the 1960s South, it reflects cultural attitudes of the era, including casual racism.
Norwood's journey is more about experiences than a traditional plot.
There are comedic moments, such as a scene involving a train and a fight with his sister's boyfriend.
Listening to the audiobook is recommended for the delivery of the humor.
Portis's writing style includes a unique blend of absurdity and realism.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains significant use of racial slurs and themes surrounding racism, as it is set in a mid-century Southern context.

Has Romance?

There are romantic elements in the story, particularly with Norwood's experiences and relationships, but they are not the primary focus.

From The Publisher:

"A great American deadpan comedy. . . . Norwood, like a belt of whiskey, cleared my sinuses right up." --Slate

Norwood, Charles Portis's first novel, displayed right out of the gate the wit, style, and singular voice that made him one of our great American writers. Out of the Neon Desert of Roller Dromes, chili parlors, the Grand Ole Opry, and girls who want "to live in a trailer and play records all night" comes ex-marine and troubadour Norwood Pratt. Sent on a mission to New York by Grady Fring, the Kredit King, Norwood has visions of "speeding across the country in a late model car, seeing all the sights." By the time he returns home to Ralph, Texas, Norwood has met his true love, Rita Lee, on a Trailway bus; befriended Edmund B. Ratner, the self-described "world's smallest perfect man"; and helped Joann, "the chicken with a college education," realize her true potential in life. As with all of Portis's fiction, the tone is cool, sympathetic, funny, and undeniably American.

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About the Author:

Charles Portis (b. December 28, 1933, d. February 17, 2020) lived in Arkansas, where he was born and educated. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, was the London bureau chief of the New York Herald-Tribune, and was a writer for The New Yorker. He was the author of five novels: Norwood, The Dog of the South, Masters of Atlantis, True Grit, and Gringos.

 
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