Zermatt: A Novel (Calvin Becker Trilogy) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "NOW WE WILL ALL DIE because of the filthy Roman Catholics," said Janet..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This is the last entry in Schaeffer's sweet-natured trilogy (Portofino, 1992; Saving Grandma, 1997) featuring the Becker family, fundamentalist missionaries stationed in Switzerland. On their long-awaited family ski vacation at the Hotel Riffelberg, 14-year-old Calvin Becker is struggling mightily to fit in and make contact with the other hotel guests, a process made excruciatingly difficult by his family's behavior, which includes an overly long recitation of the premeal prayer in the hotel dining room and loud denunciations of "filthy" Catholics and the hotel's choice of musical entertainment. Meanwhile, he's making great sexual headway with the hotel maid and is desperate to keep his snoop of a mother in the dark, but his sexual antics lead to a crisis in the family. He gets help from an unexpected quarter when his father leaps to his defense and then promptly suffers a nervous breakdown. Amusing and, at times, deeply touching, this novel doesn't quite measure up to the standards set by its predecessors, but fans of the Becker family will want to see how the trilogy ends. Joanne Wilkinson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

" 'Eloquently captures the atmosphere of place and period... Schaeffer describes both the pleasures and the occasional torments of childhood with charm and humour...the warmth of characterisation is matched by the novel's rich evocation of Italian life, and the accuracy with which it captures the nuances of 1960s manners' - THE TIMES 'Evocative, funny and wonderfully observed, reading this book is a holiday in itself' - GUARDIAN 'Not since Huck Finn has American literature been graced with a character as irresistible as Calvin Dort Becker' - ANDRES DUBUS III 'Poignant and hilarious...by turns, sentimental, celebratory, evocative and very funny' - LOS ANGELES TIMES" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786714603
• ISBN-13: 978-0786714605
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #93,223 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Page-turner, but what's memoir and what's fiction?, December 28, 2004

By	Patricia Tryon (Longmont, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a novel, I found this less satisfying than the previous two books about Calvin because the narrative seemed episodic, rather than an expression of a writer's fully realized vision of time, place, and plot. Simply put, the story jumps from one anecdote to the next: this happened, and this, which made me think about ---, but then this happened...

Such a presentation may well resonate with people able to identify themselves with the author or his experiences. But I could not see what distinguishes this from other coming-of-age memoirs written by Western men, except that Calvin's life seems to have become more and more insular over the course of the trilogy.

I could not identify with the author or his experiences, but it was certainly easy to identify the characters and settings described: n.b., described, not created. To most American evangelicals and fundamentalists, Schaeffer's family of origin is well known for its attempts to define and arguably circumscribe the ideal of Protestant orthodoxy. Caricatures of the family in this book extend even to their habits of dress, which is interesting given the writer's apparent agenda of reclaiming his story from the lore of his family.

Much about the circumstances of the author makes me uncomfortable, but I admit that the novel succeeds in at least two areas. First, it provides literary exegesis of the erotic imagination of an American boy. Second, it virtually assures that no further hagiographic treatment of his family and their mission can take place without somehow addressing issues raised by Schaeffer's books, some of which are mental illness and abuse.

The book surely reads differently for those who do not place Frank Schaeffer in context of his family of origin and of a career developed with family support and connections. But my guess is that this ramble is of greatest interest to those who recognize Edith -- er, ELSA in her trim black suit teaching Bible study in the great room of the chalet. So if you do not know or know of the Schaeffers, the book is a fast, uncomplicated read. If you do know or know of the Schaeffers, you may find yourself wondering whether reading the book makes you party to the sin of detraction. I am thinking about that, myself. A lot.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Blushing... And Laughing, October 27, 2003

By	Monique Boucher (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zermatt: A Novel (Hardcover)

In this howlingly funny follow up to Portofino and Saving Grandma, Mr. Schaeffer again tackles the theme of religious zeal and hypocrisy, setting the backdrop at a European ski resort. I laughed out loud at the unbalanced Swiss maid, the two-faced sister, the manic- depressive father, and drunken English gentleman as seen through the eyes of an adolescent boy.

There is more to this book than the comedy routine. At the heart of this is a question that has plagued me as a believer for years: where is the line between getting close to God and playing God?

Whether you're looking for a bildungsroman, a nostalgic look at Europe in the 60's, or just a good long laugh, Zermatt will deliver.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story, but where is Jennifer?, August 16, 2005

By	Douglas M. Donahue, Jr. "world traveler" (Atlanta, Ga.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have fallen in love with Frank Shaffer's "Calvin Becker" universe. The characters are well developed, and his descriptions make me feel like I've spent lots of time in Portofino and Zermatt (Which I really have!) The stories are well written, and give the reader a feeling like slipping on a soft old sweater and sitting by the fire on a cool, damp winter's evening. However, the relationship between Calvin and his best friend, Jennifer, drives much of the plot in the first two books, and Jennifer is nowhere to be found in Zermatt. I missed her terribly because I want to see what happens to the couple as they grow up. (This is supposed to be a "Coming of Age" story, at least for Calvin.) It's clear that the feelings between the two of them are changing as they get older and closer to adolescence. However, the way that "Zermatt" ends leaves us with clear clues that there is more about the Becker family coming soon. I also got the feeling that Jennifer will be there when the next chapter begins. I certainly hope so!