The Book of Sorrows [Hardcover]

Walter Wangerin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1985

In the aftermath of the terrible conflict with the dreaded Wyrm, Chauntecleer, Pertelote, and the other inhabitants of the Coop try to piece together their shattered lives until the Wyrm once again insinuates himself with dire consequences for all.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Walter Wangerin Jr. first came to prominence as the award-winning author of The Book of the Dun Cow. He has since won many other awards and honors for his books, including the best-selling Book of God. Wangerin holds the Jochum Chair at Valparaiso University in Indiana, where he is writer-in-residence --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

This sequel to the award-winning The Book of the Dun Cow stands on its own as a powerful work of literature. In this absorbing, highly original fantasy, Chauntecleer, Pertelote, and the other familiar characters of the Coop struggle to piece together their shattered lives in the aftermath of the terrible conflict with the dreaded Wyrm. But their respite is short-lived: Into this struggling community, Wyrm again insinuates himself, with dire consequences for all. The reappearance of the dog Mundo Coni unveils a darker mystery yet -- and the threat of a final horror when evil yields up its most devastating secrets. Told by a master storyteller, The Book of Sorrows is a taught and spellbinding tale that immerses readers in a variety of adventures -- heroic, humorous, and touching -- moving inexorably toward the final confrontation that decides the fate of the characters and their world. No one who reads it will remain unmoved. It explores the value and goodness of existence, the darker side of reality, and qualities of love, kindness, courage, and hope that can transform even "this troublous existence." Here is fast-paced fantasy filled with richly drawn characters and gripping excitement, set against a colorful, fully realized world, and with depth of meaning that will draw readers back again and again to ponder the images long after the final battle is waged between the forces of life and death. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 339 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins; 1st edition (May 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062509292
• ISBN-13: 978-0062509291
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Moving novel I have read, October 17, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Sorrows (Paperback)

First off, you must read Wangerin's "The Book of the Dun Cow" in order to set up the background and world of "The Book of Sorrows". You will still enjoy this novel if you read it on its own, but you'll get more if you understand the buildup. On the surface, "The Book of Sorrows" seems to be yet another "Watership Down" type of adventure. But it, along with "The Book of the Dun Cow", are one of the purest investigations of good and evil I've ever read. The first novel dealt with the battle on a physical plane, this novel deals with the battle within someone's soul. That this someone is a rooster adds to, rather than detracts from, its relevance to ourselves. The emotional drama is all the more poignant due to Wangerin's use of animals as his dramatic vehicles. They allow him to use archetypical secondary characters and focus on the shades within a single soul; rather than confusing the issue with an exhaustive investigation of the nuances of interpersonal relationships. It works because the novel seeks not to investigate the social dynamics of human good and evil, but instead delves into the unvarnished, brutal, conflict of the ages. On a purely visceral level, there is one particular scene that moved me to tears, literally. You'll know it when you read it. I do not recommend this book for anyone who is weak. It packs an emotional wallop unlike any other prose I've encountered. If, however, you seek a weapon to fight your own demons, then read this tale about someone who won.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lifelong Treasure, February 29, 2000

By 

Feffer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Sorrows (Paperback)

No fictional tale had ever moved me to tears until I read The Book of Sorrows. Wangerin's poetic prose and eloquent storytelling abilities return in this sequel to The Book of the Dun Cow. Through these two stories I befriended Chauntecleer, Pertelote, and John Wesley Weasel. The final third of the story was one long weep, and in the end I felt as if I had lost a lifelong friend. My only regret is that there will be no more tales from this coop. The Book of Sorrows and The Book of the Dun Cow are on my list of best and favorite books I have had the pleasure to read.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I literally wept throught the entire book, December 17, 2002

By 

Robert Huffstedtler (Cary, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Sorrows (Paperback)

This was a very difficult book to read. It probably won't have much impact on you if you haven't read Book of the Dun Cow first, but if you have, prepare to cry like a baby. The story picks up with the aftermath of the battle that ended the previous book. Unlike most fantasy novels where life goes back to normal, the Book of Sorrows deals seriously with the grim consequences. Into the midst of it comes a profound spiritual struggle - Chauntecleer's old enemy Wyrm uses uses the Rooster's sense of failure to lead him to embark on a course of action which will have disastrous consequences for all involved.