Several entries have occurred to me late — BREAKING AWAY, and why it holds up; various pet-vet emergencies (inspired by <a href=”http://firstoffenders.typepad.com/” target=”_blank”>First Offenders</a>), including the one where my cat ate Easter basket grass, which became apparent when a single blade protruded from . . . do I need to spell it out? “You see this mass on the X-ray?” the vet asked me. “It’s either Easter grass, entwined around his intestines — or it’s gas. All we can do is wait a few hours and X-ray him again.” Oh, life was never dull with Travis around.
But I keep returning to books because no matter how many times I am asked to recommend books — first <a href=”http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18628613/site/newsweek/” target=”_blank”>here</a>, then <a href=”http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/” target=”_blank”>The Rap Sheet</a> and another interview now in the wings — there’s always another book I want to recommend. And I am filled with recommender’s regret because I have not picked THE NIGHT MEN for a single one of these assignments. And THE NIGHT MEN is probably in my top twenty, all time.
THE NIGHT MEN is the book that IMHO (it’s all IMHO here, folks, but every now and then I need to clarify that) achieved what A SEPARATE PEACE was reaching for, but never quite got. Maybe, to be fair, I just never got the prep school WWII setting. But I got THE NIGHT MEN and it’s also set among boys in a culture that’s not mine, in an era that’s not mine. It is, by design, a human-scale drama, where the action and its consequences are kept realistically small, yet are no less harrowing for it. If I had to put a single word to THE NIGHT MEN, I think it would be . . . rueful. As in, <a href=”http://www.bartleby.com/123/54.html” target=”_blank”>”With rue my heart is laden”</a>.
In interest of full disclosure, THE NIGHT MEN was written by a good friend, <a href=”http://www.journalscape.com/keithsnyder” target=”_blank”>Keith Snyder</a>.
The Maude Hart Lovelace books bind my daughter and I together more than any other series of books. I am continually looking for them in bookstores, especially the older editions and never, never find them. Who is hoarding them all? Was there anything more delightful than lying on your bed on a summer night and reading one?
I agree with your comments on THE NIGHT MEN. In fact, that whole series (quartet?)is a wonderful statement on friendship, more than anything (to me), and I’ve reread them all several times. The books also show how a good story arc over several books can be done. Those were the first mysteries (I think) that I could read after 9/11 (first I think I read books by Elizabeth Cadell, then another favorite comfort read, The Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast, then I went on to Keith’s books). Thanks for bringing THE NIGHT MEN up for discussion, and hopefully those who have missed them will go forth and read them ASAP.
Enjoy the long weekend!
Patti
I would concur about THE NIGHT MEN. And Patti’s comment that the entire series is “a wonderful statement on friendship” is right on, and sums them all up perfectly.
Keith even got the cat right, which is very hard to do.
Never did get “A Separate Peace” either. We were forced through it in school, and I managed to wing the essay about it without having read it. When I read the book later, I decided I had made the right choice in the first place.
And having spent time in Bloomington–and still being close enough to visit regularly–I very much appreciate “Breaking Away.” My wife went to grad school there, so it was fun to recognize settings and see what looked the same and what had changed. (On the other hand, she’s never gotten all the way through it, because she got sick of the Little 500 every year, so she just can’t face a movie where you’re supposed to be interested in it…)
Keith is a friend and in fact, I worked for him for a while publicizing his stuff. I have a massive crush on his character Robert, and like Patti, I love what I see in the friendships these guys share. I love the humor in the books and yeah, have reread each one more than once and always make a point of knowing where they are in this mess in case i need to reread one again.
I love what he did in THE NIGHT MEN for many reasons, including learning what brought these three guys together in friendship, and every time I read any of Keith’s books I find new places to giggle (one fave bit in TNM involves “theremin chow”)
I didn’t get SEPARATE PEACE either – I don’t recall if it was a required book or not, but I did very badly with required reading in high school. In this case it might have had someething to do with my inability to relate, at least then (probably still) to the lives of teenage boys, espeically privileged teenage boys (of the fancy school variety, though I know there is far more happening in that book than i describe) but it’s a very alien place and not one I was ever very interested in. I don’t know if I could read it now.
Keith makes some pretty cool and creative short films too….
http://www.woollymammoth.com/sellinhell/
I remember liking the first part of A SEPARATE PEACE — up through the moment on the branch, when the one boy jiggles it, maybe on purpose, maybe not. I thought that was a great set-up for examining the friendship and the fall of the golden boy. But the second half of the book was too elliptical for me.
By the way, Bill Peschel nominated COFFIN’S GOT THE DEAD MAN INSIDE (another Snyder title) for The Rap Sheet’s running list of criminally overlooked titles.
I’m very pleased and a little embarrassed. But mostly pleased.
These were all great to read, once I could bear to look at them straight-on long enough to actually read them. Thanks everyone, and especially Laura.
And John–I’d forgotten that! Please don’t feel slighted–I’ve forgotten pretty much everything. I’m sure you understand, being a father yourself. So it was cool to be reminded about you and Erwin distributing copies at Bouchercon. If I recall correctly, the shipment of the new book showed up late to the convention, and then word spread when it finally appeared.
I didn’t get A SEPARATE PEACE either. I’m not sure it was actually a book for teenagers, which is when it was imposed on me.
So following my policy of resistance to imposition, I didn’t read the last 90%.
First, congratulations to the lovely blushing bride, Mrs. Patti O’Brien.
My fondest memory is from Bouchercon when Erwin Bush and I had the privilige and pleasure of distributing a box of copies of TNM to booksellers with a hoard of anxious readers following us.
Oh, and THE NIGHT MEN is an awesome book. I consider it a timeless classic. Every time I read it, a new aspect of it speaks to me and resonates.
A SEPARATE PEACE sure has gotten a lot of bad commentary lately. I liked it when I read it in high school. Up until now, I thought I’d gotten it. Now I’m not sure. But I have a copy and I’m going to read it again.
After I read THE NIGHT MEN again.
Keith, I absolutely understand, and don’t feel slighted in the least. And yes, word spread like wildfire. The mob of smiling readers was waiting when the elevator doors opened.
The last time I used Separate Peace as a required reading, I didn’t tell them it was required <snicker>. I told them I had it in the bookstore, go buy it, read it, then talk to me about it. THEN after 2 weeks, I gave out my questions. Man, did they GET it! After all, these were rich Boca kids, for the most part…and a couple of them really identified with some of the characters. Which actually made me a little nervous.
But I surely wish I’d known Keith then….I would have recommended his books to my classes. Usually, when I recommended something, it wasn’t the kiss of death.
And you’re right, all of you: the story arc in those books is the best I’ve ever read on friendship between guys…and The Night Men nailed it head on.