This title is not currently available for purchase
Facebook Twitter Pinterest <Embed>
Flip to back Flip to front
Audible Narration Playing... Paused   You are listening to a sample of the Audible narration for this Kindle book.
Learn more

Norwood Kindle Edition

by
Charles Portis (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Charles Portis Page
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author? Learn about Author Central
Charles Portis (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 58 customer reviews
See all 15 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Price
New from Used from
Kindle
"Please retry"
$10.09
— —
Hardcover
"Please retry"
—
— $59.99
Paperback
"Please retry"
$9.96
$8.15 $2.10
Audible, Unabridged
"Please retry"
$0.00
Free with your Audible trial
Mass Market Paperback
"Please retry"
—
$97.08 $1.96
Audio CD, Audiobook, CD
"Please retry"
$24.95
$13.93 $13.90
Unknown Binding
"Please retry"
—
$19.19 $19.19
Length: 272 pages Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Glory Over Everything
April's Book with Buzz
"Glory Over Everything" by Kathleen Grissom. Heartbroken and with nothing to lose, Jamie embarks on a trip to a North Carolina plantation where Pan is being held with a former Tall Oakes slave named Sukey. Though they have help from those in the Underground Railroad, not all of them will make it out alive. See more

Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.
Back
  1. The Searchers
    Alan Lemay
    4.6 out of 5 stars 163
    Kindle Edition
    $4.42
  2. The Great Leader (Faux Mystery)
    Jim Harrison
    3.6 out of 5 stars 80
    Kindle Edition
    $11.88
  3. The Laughing Monsters: A Novel
    Denis Johnson
    3.2 out of 5 stars 108
    Kindle Edition
    $11.00
  4. Hit Man (Keller series Book 1)
    Lawrence Block
    4.0 out of 5 stars 184
    Kindle Edition
    $7.22
  5. The Marauders: A Novel
    Tom Cooper
    4.1 out of 5 stars 121
    Kindle Edition
    $11.07
  6. Butcher's Crossing (New York Review Books Classics)
    John Williams
    4.4 out of 5 stars 155
    Kindle Edition
    $12.32
Next

Product Details

  • File Size: 310 KB
  • Print Length: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Overlook Books (August 1, 1999)
  • Publication Date: August 1, 1999
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004I8V0P4
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:
  • Word Wise: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #609,347 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

    •  Would you like to give feedback on images or tell us about a lower price?

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA well-written gem of American humor.
By A Customer on December 29, 1998
Format: Paperback
I wanted to order another copy of this to ensure I'd never be without it. Unfortunately, it appears it's out of print. I first read NORWOOD when I was in high school in the 70's, and it is the ONLY thing I've ever read that has actually become funnier and richer in repeated adult readings. I can quote entire paragraphs by heart, and I have my husband read it out loud to me when I'm blue. We both use phrases from it to describe absurd situations. Charles Portis, of TRUE GRIT fame, is a wonderful writer, and this book deserved better than having a mediocre movie starring Glen Campbell made of it. My humor runs to Woody Allen and Cohen Brothers movies, Young Frankenstein, A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES, and sassy Southern writers. If any of these match your taste, try NORWOOD. If you can find it.
2 Comments 53 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
4.0 out of 5 starsBuses, Trains, and Automobiles
By Bucherwurm on January 6, 2000
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Norwood Pratt, our ex marine hero, hails from Ralph, Texas. Now don't get the idea that he lives out in the boonies somewhere; Ralph is not too far distant from that bigger city, Texarkana. Ralph's a bit jaded with his job at the Nipper gas station, and somehwhat claustrophobic living in the same small house with his sister Vernell and her husband Bill Bird. Thus we collect a $70 debt owed by a fellow marine.
Norwood gets to the big city via car and freight train, and then finds that his buddy has moved back to his home around Memphis. Now on a bus journey, Norwood gradually assembles an entourage of a young woman, a midget, and an educated chicken. Does Norwood collect his debt? It doesn't matter. The money owed is a Hitchcockian McGuffin; it's our travels with Norwood that really matter.
It's a funny book that provides us with the company of an interesting group of simple, small town folk. Mind you they are mostly decent folk, and Mr. Portis doesn't put them down. In fact you get to learn some new aphorisms such as, "Don't let your mouth write a check that you're ass can't cash." It's a slender volume with wide margins that can be read quickly; more like an extended novella - if such a thing exists. If you have a rusting '57 Hudson in your front yard you will feel totally at home with Norwood.
Comment 18 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsMinimalist Masterpiece
By Timothy Hulsey on January 18, 2000
Format: Paperback
_Norwood_ is "minimalist" in the truest possible sense. Charles Portis's first novel is about a twenty-three year old Korean War veteran who travels from Texas to New York and back, ostensibly to collect a loan of seventy-five dollars from an old Army buddy.
This deliberately inconsequential narrative combines with a flat, almost repertorial narrative voice and reticent, unremarkable characters to produce a book that manages to be both portentous and weightless at the same time. _Norwood_ straddles the fine line between nonsense and allegory.
In this respect _Norwood_ resembles some of the better fictions of James Purdy (_Malcolm_ comes to mind). As with Purdy, Portis's world always threatens to erupt into random and horrific violence. But unlike Purdy, Portis's deadpan voice conceals an almost compulsive good nature. Although Portis displays his characters' occasionally violent impulses, he refuses to pursue those impulses to tragic or ironic ends.
_Norwood_ is also one of the funniest books I've ever read, and, refreshingly, the laughter leaves a pleasant taste in the mouth.
Comment 24 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Eternal Truth of the Simple Man
By Seachranaiche on November 21, 2004
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Norwood Pratt has neither guile nor an education, but he possesses a comic wisdom that guides him from one nutty encounter to another. He is the man he is, regardless, slow to fight but ready to fight, honest, to a point, and rationalizing beyond that. He never internalizes, seldom jumps to conclusions, and just proceeds along the rightness of his course without question. He is a Faulknerian character distilled down to the basics, so unsophisticated he is hilariously honest.

Norwood is a fast-paced comedy of the simpleton winning out in the end because his sights are so low he can't lose, and Charles Portis' social commentary should not be missed, but if you do, the dialogue alone is worth the read. And if the characters in Norwood seem too silly to be real? Well, I recognized them more than I care to admit.
Comment 10 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
5.0 out of 5 starsThe funniest of Southern Grotesques
By Shaun Mason on February 21, 2000
Format: Paperback
When one thinks of the truly great Southern writers (Faulkner, O'Connor, Williams, Percy, Crews, et al) one always thinks of their funniest pieces first. Sure, there is nothing that compares with the genius of The Sound and the Fury, but it's As I Lay Dying that most people recognize as their favorite Falkner novel, mostly because of its dark humor.
Then along comes Charles Portis, who writes the funniest Southern novel there is.
Norwood is simple, yet complex.
Brilliant in its simplicty.
Simply brilliant.
I think of the funniest books ever, like Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis, The Bushwhacked Piano by Thomas McGuane, The Ginger Man by J.P. Donleavy, Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance by Richard Powers. Norwood easily attains their ranks. As others on this page have mentioned, it's minimalistic, but it is also extremely rich in characterization and dialogue in the unique way only well-rendered Southern fiction can be. It gets to know you quickly, just as the characters get to know each other quickly.
Norwood is a work of genius. Charles Portis, I salute your incredible craftsmanship. A book everyone should read.
Comment 21 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars"Where are the good people?"

Guy living in Texarkana goes to New York City to collect $70 an old army buddy owes him, misses him coming home by three days, and comes back home, where he collects his money,... Read more

Published 13 days ago by Robert Peate
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

This book does not age. one of the funniest I have ever read.

Published 1 month ago by S.S.Martin
5.0 out of 5 starsgood

good one. glad to have heard about it. smart, funny.

Published 4 months ago by R. Linder
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Fun, easy read

Published 4 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsHilarious - A Modern "Tobacco Road" Without Becoming Tedious And...

I actually decided to read this book to familiarize myself with the author before reading "True Grit". I had never even heard of "Norwood". Read more

Published 7 months ago by Francis C. Donnelly
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Just loved this book

Published 7 months ago by Brenda D
5.0 out of 5 starsFocused and Unexpected Silliness.

So clever! I loved it.

Published 8 months ago by College Jane
5.0 out of 5 starsA hilarious time capsule of authentic American language.

A hilarious time capsule of authentic American language.

Published 11 months ago by Bruce good
5.0 out of 5 starsA Little Gem

This book is a little gem. It's possible that you have to come from the South U.S. to totally get all the full chicken richness of Portis, but I'm betting not. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Brad Gadberry
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat stuff. A major piece of work

Great stuff. A major piece of work.

Published 15 months ago by Arthur Thorp

Forums

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.



Look for Similar Items by Category

 
Feedback
If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
Would you like to report poor quality or formatting in this book? Click here
Would you like to report this content as inappropriate? Click here
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? Click here