Search - Ironweed

If you're looking for a real-life protagonist, this is your book. Phelan is a regular guy through and through, full of faults and foibles, stumbling every time a normal human would. For this, he's endearing. And frustrating. But throughout the book, you maintain a sense of hope that things will turn out alright for him. His story is worth the read.

I thought this book was interesting and somewhat well-written. The premise of the story is about bums and picks up where Kennedy's novel, "Billy Phelan's Greatest Game" leaves off. The lead character, Irish-American Francis Phelan is back in the city that he grew up in, where his past actions leave him filled with guilt; this is his attempt to come to terms with his decisions and appease the spirits who stalk his waking moments. There are a bevy of disparate and desperate characters, including Helen, his "woman," and Annie, his ex-wife. Despite the copious praise for this book, I felt that it had more pathos than necessary. I was glad it was a short read, and while it had some worthwhile inspired thoughts, I am not sure if I would have picked it to be a Pulitzer prize winner.

Well written and entertaining. read it on a flight from Charlotte to San Diego.

This is a tough one. It's a pretty stark story with lots of dying. It starts out in a graveyard with the man's dead parents talking about him.. so it doesn't sneak up on you or anything. It is a really rich and impressive story- the man is smart & insightful- just trying to deal with the mistakes he's made in life.

a classic--won the pulitzer prize