Customer Reviews

Arthur Hawke

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
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"Masterpiece" is not a word I use lightly. In fact, when it comes to literature, I reserve it for no more than four or five novels. YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE definitely belongs in the category of masterpieces---a masterpiece of writing by Wouk, a masterpiece of depicting the rise and fall of a country bumpkin who achieves the height of literary success in New York City, a masterpiece of secondary character development, a masterpiece of depicting America's artistic circle in the mid-twentieth century.

Arthur Youngblood Hawke hails from a small coal-mining town in Kentucky. Not content to become a part of the local industry, he recognizes his natural talent as a story-teller and, armed only with his boxes of typed manuscript, walks into a publishing house in New York City in 1946. From there the story follows his life as a writer and as a man who loves two women and is desired by three. If you are a writer or a person who likes to read about the writing experience, this book offers, like none other I have ever read, a searing picture of the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to become a writer and remain true to your craft. Wouk does not paint a pretty picture, but he does paint a realistic one. Youngblood Hawke sees his novels adapted to movies and Broadway plays, and the reader becomes privy to the inner workings of Hollywood agents and brokers.

This is also a love story---a story of a young man's adulterous fascination with a queen of New York society, his relationship with the husky-voiced editor he loves but can never possess, his love for his mother that never falters even when she is driving him to distraction with her real estate schemes.

And tying all this together is Herman Wouk writing at the top of his form, creating characters that make us love them, anguish with them, cry with them, and never forget them. In fact, the last 100 pages are perhaps the most riveting and heart-breaking I have ever read. This is truly a magnificent work of epic proportions, a work which some say is loosely based on the life of heralded writer Thomas Wolfe. Whether this is true or not, the one truth I took from this work came from the character of Jeanne Green when she says, ". . . there will never be another Youngblood Hawke,"

After reading The Hope, The Glory and The Caine Mutiny, I was ready to be entertained. However, the extent of enjoyment I would receive from Youngblood Hawke was underestimated. Wouk's unique storytelling draws you into the book as if you are with Hawke when he is writing, visiting his hometown, wooing his women, or absorbing the glitter of Hollywood and New York. I was dreading the last page, I just didn't want the tale of this colorful writer to end. When I did close the book, I felt I was saying farewell to Hawke and his many close acquaintances. I knew them well - what they wore, how they talked and how they felt. Wouk is magnificent.

I stumbled onto Herman Wouk as an author through his famous Winds of War and War and Remembrance -- and was so impressed I began a journey reading all his books, one I am still (happily!) taking. But not only has Youngblood Hawke topped my list of Wouk favorites (to date), but it has topped my list of all-time favorites, beating out even Pride and Prejudice and Ben Hur.

I am partial to the era depicted in this story -- the age of radio and the dawn of classic hollywood -- and Wouk is a true master when it comes to painting an accurate picture of the lives lived in those times -- all without once falling into the trap of having to name famous names to sell his story. And woven with consummate skill throughout the events of his story is a comic tragedy that so draws the reader in, you wish you could at once chastize the characters when they make inevitably horrible decisions, and you grieve with them when they hurt because you nevertheless understand exactly why they've done what they've done. And all this culminates in an ending that is so TRUE, of it I can only say that it is perfect.

If you love to read, if you love to write, if you love the era of early 20th century America, if you love a great story, if you love intricate character development, if you love a bit of sardonic humor, if you crave a story that will at once capture your heart and insense you with frustration, if you read literature to be transported into other times and places, if you read to feel your own soul well up within you, you MUST read this book.

This is a book of which I now own two copies, and I will read again and again. I hope and pray it finds its way into the annals of classical literature -- especially as pertains to 20th century American fiction. This book is a truly masterful work of art, that even in its scope manages to examine critically the merit of art itself.

It is at once wholly 20th century American in its style, and 19th century Russian in its scope. (And you haven't even heard what I could say about the first two Wouk books I mentioned above!) If you are the least bit curious based on my review, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Yes, it is a fantastic read, a gripping tragedy, with powerful characters and a realistic portrayal of New York and literary life in mid-20th Century America. But it is more: it is a writer's book. It is one of the best driving forces I have ever experienced. I mean, get you out of bed at 3 A.M. to write another 20 pages on your own manuscript, type of motivation. For years now I have had a page stuck to the side of my bookshelf here by my desk. It reads: "Can you meet the Youngblood Hawke challenge?"

Though I caution: push yourself this hard at your own risk.

Cheers,

Thomas

I read years ago Herman Wouk's Winds of War and War and Remembrance. I just loved those books. I came upon Youngbood Hawke by accident and thought I would give the big book a try. I wish the book were longer.

If you love to read, if you love the era of early 20th century America, if you love a great story, if you love intricate character development, New York and Hollywood this is the book for you.

This book is up there with Ayn Rand and Dorothy Sayers.

Warn everyone you know, that you will not be able to stop, reading Youngblood Hawke, that is.

A coach suggested that I read this book, as I love to read and write. From the first sentence I was hooked, and the richness of the characters, and the clarity of the descriptions (including New York in the early 1950s, Washington D.C. during the McCarthy trials) made this 900 page book impossible to put down.

There is much to love in this book, and I especially enjoyed the look within the writing process, and how each of the ficitonal character's books came to life. Then, how each book slithered through the publishing industry, the movie business, and sometimes back to New York and Broadway via the theatre.

I won't give anything away, but this was an incredible read from first page to last!

I felt that this book was incredible. I literally threw it across the room because the main character really annoyed me. This shows the extent to which Wouk makes you care about the characters. Besides, I'm a sucker for tragedies, and this is surely a tragedy. Great read though; you won't be able to leave it alone.

Having seen two screen adaptations of Wouk's novels,("Caine Mutiny"/"Youngblood Hawke") before reading him, I come to a review with mixed feelings. This is no Gatsby, but does rival "Peyton Place" in its graphic depiction of the Puritanical 50's. If you can imagine James Franciscus as Hawke,you will realize how far off Hollywood was in its early 60's treatment of this fine textbook to those who labor in the craft of writing. In my view, Hawke comes close to being a combination of Wolfe and Norman Mailer. Although not a masterpiece to me, it is valuable as a bible for aspiring writers. The warnings are there: the hangers-on, the barracudas and the crazies circle to swallow you whole. The proper attitude is to labor for the love of writing, the rest can follow.He had the talent, the courage and the stamina to produce enduring work. And against all odds, he achieved his dream. Like Wouk (or Hawke), they both spent considerable time with the classic novelists, before attempting to rise.As we've seen in the publishing empire recently, editors have thrown out guidelines, to anticipate the next "find." Next to the biography of "Max Perkins," I would place this book as most inspiring for writers.It slows in just a few places unnecessarily reaching for another foreign scrape that perhaps a Fitzgerald would have fallen into.Engrossing, informative and entertaining for the most part.

Many years ago, I read Winds of War and War and Remembrance. I enjoyed them very much, but for whatever reason, never pursued other Wouk works. After having read Youngblood Hawke, I will certainly remedy that mistake.

Youngblood Hawke is an outstanding period piece which weaves together many of the historical events of the 50s against the backdrop of the publishing and Hollywood entertainment industries. Hawke, from the small town coal country of Eastern Kentucky, rises from complete obscurity to the pinnacle of success in his field. Despite this success, Hawke is always on the razor's edge, financially, emotionally, physically and professionally. Numerous highly entertaining plot lines involving his business associates, his love interests and his family inject suspense and keep the story freash and moving in the right direction.

Two particular story lines were of particular interest to me; the Congressional hearings involving Communism in the entertainment industry and the confiscatory income tax policy prevalent during the period. Both were very effectively presented as major impediments to the artistic endeavors of Hawke and his literary compatriots. The gymnastics and gyrations undertaken by Hawke to avoid what was then a top tax rate of 90% provide some of the most interesting material in the novel.

All in all, an extremely entertaining and thought provoking novel. I highly recommend it.

I have started this book a thousand times, over some forty years. I don't know why I felt this need to read it, but after just now finishing "Youngblood Hawke" I wish I had done so much earlier in my life. It is a book written by an artist about an artist for artists. Wouk of course is Hawke in the sense that Joe Gideon is Bob Fosse in "All That Jazz." I wouldn't be surprised if "Youngblood Hawke" was not on Fosse's top ten list, because it is in fact an expose on the life of an artist in the wicked world of the 20th century, a world getting even more wicked in this new millenium. I am a theatre artist and I wish I had read this novel before I ventured to New York and Broadway. Perhaps I would have seen the pitfalls I fell into before they happened.

This is the first book I've read by Wouk, but, knowing some of his biographical material, I see that he was giving much of himself to the modern artist. He was writing a cautionary tale in which nothing was black and white, except the artistic process. But modern life never lets the artist just create. We must deal and cajole and hold back our true feelings for the almighty dollar until art gives way to artifice.

"Youngblood Hawke" was in the end a melancholy read not unlike the hero's own melancholy, like the malaise that permeates our world like one long reality TV show that isn't supposed to be scripted but is. Despite our knowledge of that fact, we watch on and live on buying into the lie that art is only good if it sells.

Tell that to Van Gough and Shelley and Keats and Orson Welles.