Finished Mo 12/14/15
This was the featured book for the Contemporary Book Club. I think I was the only member who liked the book. The kindest comment was that the book was very short.
I loved it and I think it was one of the best books that the club has read. The writing was superior and it gave a realistic portrait of life in the nineteenth century American West.
The life and times of Robert Grainier. 1886-1965
Parents unknown. Brought up by his uncle's family in the wilds of Idaho. Married to Claire, daughter, Kate. They were killed in the fire that burned through the Moyea Valley.
Kate was four years old and comes back near the end of the novella. She visits Robert and has been raised by wolves. This incident was especially irritating to the club members. I thought it might have been a dream sequence or possibly Bob has lost his mind.
Dies in his cabin and is not found until the following Spring.
It's really a series of vignettes; some funny, some tragic, and some 'head-scratching'.
An articulate portrait, worts and all.
Writer's page wikipedia-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Johnson
Customer Comments at Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/Train-Dreams-Novella-Denis-Johnson/dp/1250007658
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