The ink truck [Hardcover]

William Kennedy (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: Dial Press; First Edition edition (1969)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0006CPDXG
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,931,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ink Truck, March 17, 2003

By 

Nick Mulloy (Dublin 7 Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ink Truck (Mass Market Paperback)

This is Kennedy's first novel, differing from his sequels in skirting around Albany's past and lacking the dark depths he revels in when describing the seamy underbelly of his native tone. However, in his surreal description of a heroically futile and increasingly surreal newspaper strike, he more than compensates for his reduced complexity by an emphasis instead on zany humor, absurd plot twists and a wide range of outlandish characters. Highly recommended to Kennedy aficionados who are interested in savoring a lighter touch.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well, every author has to write a first novel..., July 1, 2006

By 

L. F. Smith (E. Wenatchee, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Ink Truck (Mass Market Paperback)

Kennedy's Albany Cycle of novels is a remarkable acheivement by any standard. This, his first novel, is not part of the Albany Cycle of novels, and it's not remarkable, either.

The book is the story of the late stages of a newspaper strike from the point of view of Bailey, a striking writer. As the strike unravels, so does Bailey. As his actions become increasingly disconnected from reality, the reality he experiences becomes increasingly surreal.

One can see the future, mature Kennedy at work here, but the book is ultimately unsatisfying. I guess that's no real surprise; after all, every writer-- even great writers-- has to go through a first novel on his or her way to greatness. It's not realistic or even fair to expect a first novel to be great. This one isn't.