William Maxwell: So Long, See You Tomorrow

[Mirabell]

Maxwell proves himself to be that rare breed of novelist: truly concise and precise. I tend to say that this or that short book could have been longer at the hands of a different writer, but that does not seem to be the case here. Maxwell does not make it look easy, he makes brevity look necessary. So Long, See You Tomorrow is like a coiled spring, but all the parts are so well calibrated that I left my lecture with the impression that it would not work in a more expansive mode. This book needs to be short, and I am unable to conceive of its parts as being part of a longer work. The craftsmanship here is impeccable but Maxwell is more than that. He impresses, but at the same time, he also moves us, leads us into a landscape most of us have never visited, makes us part of a story that revolves around love, adultery and murder, the whole nine yards, so to say.the rest of the review here
http://shigekuni.wordpress.com/2009/08/01/sin-sin-sin-william-maxwells-so-long-see-you-tomorrow/ (http://shigekuni.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/sin-sin-sin-william-maxwells-so-long-see-you-tomorrow/)

I've read the book two weeks ago. I'm quite likely wrong about stuff in there. Sorry. Wish I had a memory or weren't too lazy to reread the book.

[titania7]

The review is superb, M. I will comment more when I feel I am able to express my thoughts both eloquently and concisely.

Wonderful work, however. Not knowing the book, I wouldn't be able to ascertain whether or not your details were completely accurate, but I daresay you have a much better memory than you give yourself credit for.


yours,
Alexis


"In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough
shadows for those who don't." ~Blaise Pascal