An American Family: The Baby with the Curious Markings [Hardcover]

Harry Crews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006

The newest book out from the creator of SOUTHERN GOTHIC, HARRY CREWS! The first novel in over eight years.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in what appears to be the contemporary South, this twisted tale of violence and passion from Crews (The Gospel Singer) focuses on the domestic conflicts facing Major Melton, a former marine and junior college professor. Melton's discovery of an unusual birthmark on his baby son's private parts leads him to suspect his wife of an affair—and to a series of brutal episodes involving pit bulls and a hanging. The odd ending will leave many wondering what the point of it all was. Fans of Southern gothic at its most gruesome will be pleased, but mainstream crime readers are unlikely to be satisfied. (June)
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From Booklist

Crews is one of a select group of writers who have received significant praise from academic literary critics (he has been the focus of about a dozen dissertations and a special issue of Southern Quarterly) and yet can remain confident that their books will be squirreled away in the recesses of public libraries by engrossed teenagers (some of whom grow up to become literary critics). Crews' latest testosterone--fueled trance of cryptic meaning and freakish violence revolves around Major Melton, a marine-turned-English-professor protagonist who finds a suspicious birthmark on his infant son's genitalia and suspects his wife of infidelity. A violent run-in with his in-laws and some pit bulls begins the carnage, which quickly escalates into a grotesquely Freudian revenge fantasy. Between splatters, Crews revisits some familiar themes--scars, dogs, karate, physical pain, regret--and continues the obsessive examination of complicated blood relationships that has defined his career. Although those new to Crews may be shocked by the entire book, his die-hard fans will be shocked merely by the unfamiliar notions of reconciliation that shape its ending. Brendan Driscoll
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 115 pages
• Publisher: GRAHAM PRESS (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940941015
• ISBN-13: 978-0940941014
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,877,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars That's Harry Crews...., August 9, 2006

By 

R. Pettie (OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An American Family: The Baby with the Curious Markings (Hardcover)

Although I didn't find this "longish short story (novella)" to be one of Harry Crews' better offerings, it was nice to read something new by this American legend. IF you are contemplating reading CREWS - don't start here. Read A Feast of Snakes or Body or his autobiography to get a feel for the writer. IF you can get a hold of The Gospel Singer or A Hawk is Dying - even better. HOWEVER - don't discount this work! It has its place in his body of works. Be prepared for the violence - not for the squeamish. Enough said. BUY this book! You won't regret it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm glad Harry's still writing., September 12, 2009

By 

John N. Mcgee (Newnan, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An American Family: The Baby with the Curious Markings (Hardcover)

I am a huge fan of Harry Crews. I think I own all is books. An American Family is certainly a Crews novel, but alas, not one of his best. A great start that just sort of peters out at the end.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last--a new book by Harry Crews--you rock Harry!, March 15, 2007

By 

R. T. Jones "An Elvis from Hell" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An American Family: The Baby with the Curious Markings (Hardcover)

Being a Harry Crews fan for over 30 years now I am very happy with An American Family--my only gripe is it's far, far too short. By contrast this is not by any means his greatest novel. But after waiting 8 years for Harry to release something, anything, I am more than happy. This has so many of Harry Crew's favorite things in it dogs, karate, scars...the Major reminds me of Duffy. Harry Crews is the finest living Southern Gothic writer--hell greatest writer--working today. If you're a Crews fan then this is a book for you--probably really for die hard fans though. This is not a good book to read as an introduction to his work--maybe try A Feast of Snakes or Body. I am happy to have this is my Harry Crews collection! Harry where is the follow up to A Childhood; the biography of a place? please let us read us!