Customer Reviews

Florida Frenzy

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

 

 

This a collection of mostly older essays (from the 70's) that nevertheless deliver the same punch that readers have come to expect from this South Georgia native and resident wild man novelist. If you want the insider's perspective on subjects such as cockfighting, dogfighting, raptor training, insanely heavy drinking and occasional womanizing, this is the place to go. A warning: Crews is not for the weak hearted. His ability to relate realistic violence has influenced the likes of Robert Morgan (of recent Oprah fame) and Larry Brown.

I discovered Harry Crews a few years ago and I have read everything I could find on him or by him. He captures the Red Neck culture and the body builder culture and the no holds barred hedonism of the trailer park culture. If you think stereotyping is wrong then he is guilty of this poetic license too. But it makes for an unusual read. Maybe there is something wrong with me for liking this but I don't care.

I need to vent! After reading the posted reviews of this book I took a chance on it thinking it might be just a tad bit similar to Larry Brown's writings - NOT!. First, this book is very, very thin. Not worth it's price. Secondly, whomever edited this book did a "not so good job" of including works that may have showcased Crews' writings. Lastly, I'm disappointed that Larry Brown is dead and that Harry Crews just doesn't fit the bill for me as a southern writer.

Any other Crews-admirers on-line? peter@cybersight.co