I loved True Grit. I am currently in Key West on vacation (also too hot) and will keep this in mind. Currently reading Fellowship Point by Alice Dark Elliott which was published in 2022. Set in Maine, about old money Philadelphians, the main characters are two old friends in their 80s. A perfect escape book for me. Loved your photos of the Southwest, my husband and I did a 25th Anniversary trip there in Fall 2019. Stay cool and hi to Donna!
Thanks, Kate! I'd love to go back to the Southwest at some point, but probably in cooler months. Hope you enjoy the book, and Key West! I've always wanted to go! Stay cool!
When you said “Portis” and “road trip” I immediately thought of Norwood. It’s a thin novel and is to Portis as Pnin is to Nabokov: a low bar to entry that also might secretly be the author’s best work. I feel exactly as you do about DOTS and True Grit will always remain my fav (“ Watch out! The chicken and dumplings will hurt your eyes. They’ll hurt your eyes looking for the chicken!”). But Norwood is also a love letter to NYC which gives it an extra shine. Thanks for the amazing review! (Also don’t discount Gringos! I would buy it above DOTS but below Norwood. #portisforever )
Thanks, Amy! I'm going to put Norwood on my list and keep an eye out for it. It's been mentioned to me other times leading up to this newsletter. Eventually, I want to get through all Portis books and become a full-on Portishead lol! Hope all is well!
You were in my town! We try to keep those sunsets to ourselves. Really, it's awful here. Glad you survived the heat and thanks to you for mentioning the directory. I'll be back on my BS with that beast this month!
Oh man, it was so hot there! I got a sunburn in the shade! For real! Still, we had a great time. Thanks so much for mentioning BoG and for tackling such a huge task!
For would-be novelists out there, Portis is a good one to study. Take a look at that almost perfect opening paragraph you quote above. Portis was a journalist, and he gives us most of the who-what-when-where-why stuff. But note how he also generally avoids the use of unnecessary ad-words (adjectives and adverbs) in this first paragraph, until the very end that is, when he nails Dupree with “his sloping monkey shoulder.”
Portis’s other novels would probably be better known if he hadn’t written an almost perfect one in True Grit. How do you follow that? The voice in True Grit is so distinctive and so American that it’s no wonder two film adaptations were made of it. Yet few people seem to know there was a novel behind the films.
This one sounds so good!!!! I read a really interesting essay on Portis in the New York Review a couple weeks ago (that I can’t seem to find now) so I’m taking it as a sign from the universe.
I love reading a book that relates to the trip I’m on. I’m glad you two enjoyed your trip out west!!!
I loved True Grit. I am currently in Key West on vacation (also too hot) and will keep this in mind. Currently reading Fellowship Point by Alice Dark Elliott which was published in 2022. Set in Maine, about old money Philadelphians, the main characters are two old friends in their 80s. A perfect escape book for me. Loved your photos of the Southwest, my husband and I did a 25th Anniversary trip there in Fall 2019. Stay cool and hi to Donna!
Thanks, Kate! I'd love to go back to the Southwest at some point, but probably in cooler months. Hope you enjoy the book, and Key West! I've always wanted to go! Stay cool!
When you said “Portis” and “road trip” I immediately thought of Norwood. It’s a thin novel and is to Portis as Pnin is to Nabokov: a low bar to entry that also might secretly be the author’s best work. I feel exactly as you do about DOTS and True Grit will always remain my fav (“ Watch out! The chicken and dumplings will hurt your eyes. They’ll hurt your eyes looking for the chicken!”). But Norwood is also a love letter to NYC which gives it an extra shine. Thanks for the amazing review! (Also don’t discount Gringos! I would buy it above DOTS but below Norwood. #portisforever )
Thanks, Amy! I'm going to put Norwood on my list and keep an eye out for it. It's been mentioned to me other times leading up to this newsletter. Eventually, I want to get through all Portis books and become a full-on Portishead lol! Hope all is well!
You were in my town! We try to keep those sunsets to ourselves. Really, it's awful here. Glad you survived the heat and thanks to you for mentioning the directory. I'll be back on my BS with that beast this month!
Oh man, it was so hot there! I got a sunburn in the shade! For real! Still, we had a great time. Thanks so much for mentioning BoG and for tackling such a huge task!
Come back between Dec and March and it will be nicer!
For would-be novelists out there, Portis is a good one to study. Take a look at that almost perfect opening paragraph you quote above. Portis was a journalist, and he gives us most of the who-what-when-where-why stuff. But note how he also generally avoids the use of unnecessary ad-words (adjectives and adverbs) in this first paragraph, until the very end that is, when he nails Dupree with “his sloping monkey shoulder.”
Portis’s other novels would probably be better known if he hadn’t written an almost perfect one in True Grit. How do you follow that? The voice in True Grit is so distinctive and so American that it’s no wonder two film adaptations were made of it. Yet few people seem to know there was a novel behind the films.
Really great insights, Frank! Thanks!
I do love a good road trip novel. The first novel I ever wrote was a road trip novel. It's flawed and broken, but I still love it.
I'm currently reading A Month in the Country and GREATLY enjoying it. The narrator is delightful, and I'm curious where the story is going.
Thanks, Justin! So glad you’re enjoying A Month in the Country!
This one sounds so good!!!! I read a really interesting essay on Portis in the New York Review a couple weeks ago (that I can’t seem to find now) so I’m taking it as a sign from the universe.
I love reading a book that relates to the trip I’m on. I’m glad you two enjoyed your trip out west!!!
Oh and of course, thanks for mentioning the pod!!! Your support means so much! :)))
This sounds like the perfect book for a hot summer road trip! (And A+ GIFs!)
Thanks, Cassie! I really lucked out finding it on the trip!