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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Stilled by his death in August 1999, the voice of Willie Morris resonated with a particular Southern grace and eloquence. This posthumous novel, by turns poignant, funny, heartwarming and suspenseful, is worthy of comparison to Morris's classic North Toward Home. Set in the Mississippi Delta town of Fisk's Landing and spanning the early months of the Korean War, the narrative chronicles the adventures of 16-year-old Swayze Barksdale, who with his buddy Arch is called upon by hardware store owner and WWII hero Luke Cartwright to play "Taps" at the funeral of the first of the town's soldiers to fall in battle. The Korean conflict inexorably defines young Swayze's life as he participates in a succession of military funerals. When the much-despised Durley Godbold, the eldest son of an arrogant, domineering, wealthy landowner, is reported missing in action, Luke soon finds himself involved in an illicit affair with Durley's wife, Amanda. Swayze and his lifelong friend Georgia, the daughter of socially prominent parents, chance upon the lovers' secret and become conspirators of a sort. Stealing away to Luke's remote hideaway cabin, their own tender explorations are quickly fanned to flame. Illuminating the rich interior lives of the inhabitants of a Southern backwater, this tale of young love, intrigue, jealousy, treachery and violence is a deeply affecting swan song by one of America's most beloved writers. Echoing Faulkner and Caldwell, and Dan Wakefield's Going All the Way, it plays a fitting "Taps" for a literary genius cut down in his prime. (Apr. 16)Forecast: The recent movie version of My Dog Skip introduced Morris to a new generation, poised to become readers of this novel; retrospective reviews also might attract new readers. A six-city tour by the author's widow, JoAnne Prichard Morris, who will be joined by many of Morris's literary friends, and a tie-in with Father's Day merchandising should give the book a boost.
From Booklist
Morris died in 1999, and it's hard to accept that this is his last book. The gritty but poignant writings of the Mississippian who served as editor at Harper's in the 1960s have included a book about his childhood dog and one about his cat, but most famously, Toward Home (1967), in which he recalled the South of his childhood. Taps is a summary statement of Morris' fondness for the Mississippi where he came of age, and as such, the novel reads like a memoir of childhood and youth. The main character is Swayze Barksdale, who, at age 16, is busy gathering impressions of the adult world at a time when the Korean War is waging. A trumpet player, Swayze has plenty of opportunity to observe those around him when he plays "Taps" at the funerals of deceased hometown GIs. Swayze has a best friend, who teaches him about companionship; he has a girlfriend, who teaches him about early love and sexuality; and he has an adult friend, whose life and death teach Swayze the ultimate lessons in love and loss. Plotlines are kept to a minimum; this is a novel of characters rather than story, and what delicious, real, and beautifully conceived characters they are. Times were simpler in the 1950s, but this is not a simple novel. It's a deep and enriching last act for the delightful Willie Morris. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
Stilled by his death in August 1999, the voice of Willie Morris resonated with a particular Southern grace and eloquence. This posthumous novel, by turns poignant, funny, heartwarming and suspenseful, is worthy of comparison to Morris's classic North Toward Home. Set in the Mississippi Delta town of Fisk's Landing and spanning the early months of the Korean War, the narrative chronicles the adventures of 16-year-old Swayze Barksdale, who with his buddy Arch is called upon by hardware store owner and WWII hero Luke Cartwright to play "Taps" at the funeral of the first of the town's soldiers to fall in battle. The Korean conflict inexorably defines young Swayze's life as he participates in a succession of military funerals. When the much-despised Durley Godbold, the eldest son of an arrogant, domineering, wealthy landowner, is reported missing in action, Luke soon finds himself involved in an illicit affair with Durley's wife, Amanda. Swayze and his lifelong friend Georgia, the daughter of socially prominent parents, chance upon the lovers' secret and become conspirators of a sort. Stealing away to Luke's remote hideaway cabin, their own tender explorations are quickly fanned to flame. Illuminating the rich interior lives of the inhabitants of a Southern backwater, this tale of young love, intrigue, jealousy, treachery and violence is a deeply affecting swan song by one of America's most beloved writers. Echoing Faulkner and Caldwell, and Dan Wakefield's Going All the Way, it plays a fitting "Taps" for a literary genius cut down in his prime. (Apr. 16)Forecast: The recent movie version of My Dog Skip introduced Morris to a new generation, poised to become readers of this novel; retrospective reviews also might attract new readers. A six-city tour by the author's widow, JoAnne Prichard Morris, who will be joined by many of Morris's literary friends, and a tie-in with Father's Day merchandising should give the book a boost.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From Booklist
Morris died in 1999, and it's hard to accept that this is his last book. The gritty but poignant writings of the Mississippian who served as editor at Harper's in the 1960s have included a book about his childhood dog and one about his cat, but most famously, Toward Home (1967), in which he recalled the South of his childhood. Taps is a summary statement of Morris' fondness for the Mississippi where he came of age, and as such, the novel reads like a memoir of childhood and youth. The main character is Swayze Barksdale, who, at age 16, is busy gathering impressions of the adult world at a time when the Korean War is waging. A trumpet player, Swayze has plenty of opportunity to observe those around him when he plays "Taps" at the funerals of deceased hometown GIs. Swayze has a best friend, who teaches him about companionship; he has a girlfriend, who teaches him about early love and sexuality; and he has an adult friend, whose life and death teach Swayze the ultimate lessons in love and loss. Plotlines are kept to a minimum; this is a novel of characters rather than story, and what delicious, real, and beautifully conceived characters they are. Times were simpler in the 1950s, but this is not a simple novel. It's a deep and enriching last act for the delightful Willie Morris. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
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First Sentence:
WE WERE flatland people, each of us in this little long-ago tale: Luke and Amanda and Durley, Georgia and Arch and myself, Potter and Godbold and all the others. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Fisk's Landing, Potter Ricks, Sarge Jennings, Asphalt Thomas, Leroy Godbold, Idella King, Lank Hemphill, Monroe City, Roach Weems, World War, Arch Kidd, Durley Godbold, Luke Cartwright, Son Graham, New Orleans, Ricks Funeral Home, Arnold Crosswait, Wayland Bunch, United States, Blackberry Hill, Earl Van Dorn, Lieutenant Billy Permenter, New York, Number Two, Silas Delaware New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
WE WERE flatland people, each of us in this little long-ago tale: Luke and Amanda and Durley, Georgia and Arch and myself, Potter and Godbold and all the others. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Fisk's Landing, Potter Ricks, Sarge Jennings, Asphalt Thomas, Leroy Godbold, Idella King, Lank Hemphill, Monroe City, Roach Weems, World War, Arch Kidd, Durley Godbold, Luke Cartwright, Son Graham, New Orleans, Ricks Funeral Home, Arnold Crosswait, Wayland Bunch, United States, Blackberry Hill, Earl Van Dorn, Lieutenant Billy Permenter, New York, Number Two, Silas Delaware New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 14
books:
See all 14 books this book cites
- My Cat Spit McGee by Willie Morris in Front Matter
- New York Days by Willie Morris in Front Matter
- North Toward Home by Willie Morris in Front Matter
- After All, It's Only a Game (Author and Artist Series) by Willie Morris in Front Matter
- Lady of the Lake (Eclectic English Classics) by Sir Walter Scott on page 174
See all 14 books this book cites
What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?
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62% buy the item featured on this page: Taps: A Novel $11.05 |
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14% buy My Dog Skip $9.37 |
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12% buy North Toward Home $10.85 |
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6% buy The Last of the Southern Girls (Voices of the South) $14.78 |
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