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Edisto: A Novel (Paperback)

by Padgett Powell (Author) "I'm in Bluffton on a truancy spree, cutting, we call it, but all you do is walk off the unfenced yard during recess, where three..." (more)
Key Phrases: process server, Hilton Head, Baby Grand, Cooper Boyd (more...)

4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A novel that has drawn comparisons with the work of J. D. Salinger, Truman Capote, and Flannery O’Connor, Edisto centers on one Simons Everson Manigault, a twelve-year-old possessed of a vocabulary and sophistication way beyond his years and a preadolescent bewilderment with the behavior of adults. These include his mother, who is known as the Duchess, and his enigmatic father-surrogate, Taurus. Imbued with a strong sense of place—an isolated strip of South Carolina coast called Edisto—Padgett Powell’s novel is “truly remarkable . . . both as a narrative and in its extraordinary use of language” (Walker Percy).

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Padgett Powell’s most recent novel is Mrs. Hollingsworth’s Men.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Owl Books (April 15, 1985)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805013709
ISBN-13: 978-0805013702
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces

Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #914,300 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
I'm in Bluffton on a truancy spree, cutting, we call it, but all you do is walk off the unfenced yard during recess, where three hundred hunched-over kids are shooting marbles. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
process server

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Hilton Head, Baby Grand, Cooper Boyd, Boy Act, Diane Parker, Margaret Pinckney, New York, Bluffton Elementary

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Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 3 books:

A Woman Named Drown by Padgett Powell in Front Matter
Edisto Revisited: A Novel by Padgett Powell in Front Matter
Jim Morrison (They Died Too Young) by Jon E. Lewis on page 97

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	86% buy the item featured on this page: Edisto: A Novel 4.1 out of 5 stars (7)
	8% buy Aliens of Affection: Stories 4.5 out of 5 stars (2)
	6% buy Edisto Revisited: A Novel 1.0 out of 5 stars (1)

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

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

Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nothing could be finer..., September 7, 2000

By A Customer

than this darling jewel of a book! Having actually been on Edisto, and around Simon's age, in the early 70's, I can say PP has captured the place's essence and lyricism of the times. It is laugh-out-loud funny in places, and the characters interesting but the unique style of writing itself is so enjoyable: his economy is remarkable. For example, the only physical description of one of the main characters is this: "he was as shimmery as an islander's god, and solid as a butcher". And yet he paints so vivid a picture of the man, solely through action and dialogue. This is a warm, thoroughly entertaining, thoroughly unique story, with great writing. Full of wit and heart in equal measure. Pretty soon you'll be peppering your talk with unique words and phrases, and be up on the social cache inherent in being a "double Jenkins" in Charleston, but don't let it "hyper you out".

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully told coming-of-age story, December 8, 1999

By	Neil N. Trivedi "ntfool" (Brookyln, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Padgett Powell has succeeded where so many other authors have failed... he writes from the point of view of a young boy, Simons Manigault, with ease and skill. Many times, when a story is told from the point of view of a child, it comes off as hokey, even fake. And even if it is good, it can rarely be maintained for an entire full-length novel. Powell can do it. Simons is a classic character, young and naive, yet inquisitive to the world of crazyness around him. I heard somewhere that this might become a movie... please do not! Why ruin a great thing? Funny, poignant, and thoughtful... this book must not be passed over!

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice work, October 4, 2000

By	Carper (Europe) - See all my reviews

This is a funny and sophisticated coming-of-age story. The author has an impressive command of both dialogue and unusual and telling descriptions. Simons is a remarkable, unusual, and alive boy-man. The story sparkles with youthful enthusiasm in spite of its sophistication, and despite its irony never lapses into easy cynicism. Highly recommended.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A swift, enjoyable story
I enjoyed this story and recommend it. The voice and setting are appealing and it's a good, quick read.

Published on February 17, 2004 by HumbleReader

2.0 out of 5 stars Anything would be finer
This has been a wildy overrated novel since the day it was published some fifteen or so years ago. Powell was praised for his verbal inventiveness, but what he has here is... Read more

Published on September 15, 2000 by Randall Ivey

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Classic Coming-of-Age Story
Padgett Powell has created an unforgettable character in Simons ("...it's pronounced Sim-mons. I'm a rare one-m Simons") Manigault, a 13-year-old smartass whose... Read more

Published on June 30, 2000 by d.a. rogers

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable book. This one goes on my re-read shelf.
"Edisto is a truly remarkable first novel, both as a narrative and in its extrodinary use of lanquage. Read more

Published on November 18, 1997 by robertabele@sprintmail.com

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