Finished Sa 3/11/23
This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I had never read. This is Goldman's first published work (1958) that was released right after he graduated from college. William Goldman went on to a stellar career as a Hollywood screenwriter; 'MARATHON MAN, 'ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN', BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID', 'PRINCESS BRIDE'.
I suppose this was daring (possibly shocking) but now it comes across as almost bland. A young man has relationships with several different women. He didn't pick one woman, marry and settle down which was 'what everyone did' in the 50's. So, this guy was different and a worthy rival to 'CATCHER IN THE RYE' it is not (according to the book's page at Amazon).
A customer review at Amazon:
"Raymond Euripides Trevitt is a young man who can't seem to "find the handle" as he reiterates throughout this autobiographical novel. He is the son of a renowned professor of philosophy and a mother, who is a model faculty wife. Raymond could be a lot of things but he chooses to be an annoyance. As a youngster he regularly retreats to his room. OK. But when he still does it at 20 one cannot help to sense Raymond is a head case. There is tragedy in the tale, but Raymond forges on predictably always taking the wrong path. I threatened to put the book down numerous times but like Raymond always took the wrong path. Snappy dialogue was one thing that kept me there. Probably a good book for someone hung up on what makes some people self-absorbed."
The novel is set in Athens, Illinois, but this town is on the shore of Lake Michigan and probably a little north of Evanston.
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