Customer Reviews

Crum: The Novel

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A hilarious, bittersweet saga of growing up in hardcore West Virginia. Crum isn't in the gentle mountains those of us who live here love, but a played-out, bleak wasteland locked in the heart of what used to be productive coal country. It is the dark West Virginia whose existence we like to deny. In Lee Maynard's Crum, the high school is the single bastion of hope and the single hope for living well is to get out of Crum. I first visited Crum a few weeks ago and began longing for my longlost copy of the book, first read, then read aloud to friends, then loaned away. The meatwagon chapter ranks as great American literature and I can't think why I've never seen it in an anthology. Would that another printing came about...

It's a shame more people don't know about this book. It's one of the funniest books I've ever read. I would definitely not recommend it to any female friends, because it is a book for guys. The book follows a young boy through his final year in the little town of Crum, West Virginia. It's full of pranks and small adventures. In a town without excitement, this guy and his friends were determined to create some. They do a pretty good job.

For a few years it was out of print, and I was glad to see it come back last year. My copy is worn out from rereading it.

The first time I read this book I was 14 yrs. old and I was living in Logan WV., about 30 miles from Crum, WV. That was in 1985. I fell in love with the book immediately and read it all the way through. There were times when I cried and times I laughed so hard I couldn't stand it and much of the time I felt like he was telling my story and talking about my feelings and experiences. I have let about half a dozen people read my copy and it's getting pretty ragged. Lee Maynard, I don't know how you did it but you have written the best book I have ever read, next to the bible of course. Man, you're up there with Twain. Thank you so much.

Crum is one twisted little novel. Actually, it's less a novel than a collection of vignettes about the (non-fictional) coal-mining ghost town of Crum, WV, and the author's (presumably fictional) experiences growing up. After a long and tedious chapter of setup, Maynard takes off. He wears his Jean Shepherd influence on his sleeve a bit much in places, but there are far worse authors in this vein by whom to be influenced. As such, Crum tends to read like In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash with a bubbling cauldron of Freudian influence and a little A Man Called Horse for good measure. The whole thing is front-to-back delicious.

This is an excellent story about growing up and graduating from a small-town Appalachian community. My parents were of the same age in a town near Crum, and this book leaves a good, detailed account of what it was like then. This book is very similar in narrative to "Of Mice and Men" and you can finish it in similar time. Stupendously funny, touching, and sometimes sad, it would make a very good movie script. The story revolves around a teenager, trapped in a small town, and his quest to find something meaningful to do and experience, and the influence of the people around him. A must read.

Lee Maynard, Crum (Washington Square Press, 1988)

Crum is one twisted little novel. Actually, it's less a novel than a colelction of vignettes about the (non-fictional) coal-mining ghost town of Crum, WV, and the author's (presumably fictional) experiences growing up. After a long and tedious chapter of setup, Maynard takes off. He wears his Jean Shepherd influence on his sleeve a bit much in places, but there are far worse authors in this vein by whom to be influenced. As such, Crum tends to read like In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash with a bubbling cauldron of Freudian influence and a little A Man Called Horse for good measure. The whole thing is front-to-back delicious. *** 1/2

It's been almost 10 years since I read this and then started pushing it off on friends. Now, I have no idea where my copy is. "Crum" is one of those special books that you can't forget. There are moments of humor, reflection, tenderness, and particularly painful longing, sadness, and regret. It's much like growing up, wherever you're from.

I am biased to this book because I grew up in West Virginia, but I beleive anyone who loves coming of age books will enjoy Crum. It is a quick read and you will find yourself reading it agin. A wonderful first novel.

This book is a very well written, it is hysterically funny, and the caracters are described so lively that I still can see them in my head. The two first pages are a little slow, until the text grabs you and forces you to read on. In between you have to put it down in order to wipe your eyes, and catc your breath from laughing, no, roaring out load. This is what I call a brilliant and near to perfect book. Lee Maynard, thank you very much.

Lee Maynard's Crum is one of those rare, can't put it down treats that American literature rarely affords the addicted reader. After two chapters I was hooked and try as I might I could not save it for later. There are so few really readable books that it behooves one to save a few back to read when the pickings get particularly slim. Alas this one would not be saved!
I defy any perceptive reader to experience the swinging on vines description and not get 'thrill bump' reactions. It is only one of a book full of the taste, sound, reaction and emotion only the truly fortunate enjoy in their adolescence. Maynard's ear is definitely to the ground - the language rings true - there is no gratituous expletive for effect. Believe it or not that is the way boys (and girls) explore their language.
I am so glad I missed this book the first time around. What a treat - laughter, tears, heart beat of a connection to shared time and place.
K. Bruce Florence