The title of Don Robertson’s The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread
The protagonist, nine-year-old Morris Bird III, decides to break with his quiet, slightly nerdy childhood routine one day to go visit a former schoolmate of his who moved to the other side of town. He comes up with a rather sophisticated plan to walk there, unwillingly taking his six-year-old sister with him, only to run into one of the largest industrial disasters in American history. What happens next, in maybe the last quarter or fifth of the book, is absolutely amazing, a brilliantly rendered portrait of heroism writ small against an unspeakably large tragedy. Robertson focuses on the little details – what Morris does, while heroic, isn’t huge or unrealistic, but still important, and Robertson imbues him with just one “super” power: the ability to think clearly in a crisis.
Robertson switches back and forth between narrative styles, from a straightforward prose/dialogue format to an almost modernist style where he shifts scenes and characters without so much as a paragraph break. These latter digressions are short, short enough that they didn’t drive me nuts, and the way he works in the creeping gas leak – as if the gas itself is just another character, wending its way through the gutters on its daily rounds – mimics the insidious nature of the threat, to which all the actors in the drama are oblivious until the explosion occurs.
Anyway, I know a few of you read this along with me, so rather than monopolize the topic, I’ll offer some discussion points. Feel free to add your own.
* Morris’ parents are little more than ciphers in the book; his father really only appears as a disembodied voice (a God symbol?) and his mother appears rather ineffectual in her brief cameos. Why?
* I thought of the red wagon as a symbol of Morris’ innocence, both for how it’s destroyed and, although this might be a bit cynical, how it’s obtained (or hard-earned).
* What’s the significance of Morris’s name? Morris, without a diminutive, is certainly a “grown-up” name. Does “Bird” just symbolize his flight across town, or is there more to it? And why would Robertson make him a “the third?”
* Am I the only one who found it odd that Edna Frost couldn’t think of an alternate spelling of Morris’ last name? It was the one off note in the book for me.
* Stephen King has apparently called Robertson one of his three greatest influences. For those of you who’ve read King’s work, did you see echoes of King in Sliced Bread?
—
Up next: I finished Revolutionary Road
Is this the beginning of the klaw book club? If so, then I’m in! I’ve always wanted to start reading something other than sports books and this gives me the chance. I’ll order tree of smoke tomorrow on amazon.
Matt Wieters came before this book, correct?
If Matt Wieters wrote a book, it would blow away all the other books on the KLaw100! In fact, all Matt Wieters needs to do is look at a stack of paper and it will turn into a book longer, and better written than War and Peace!
If I’m ever going to be able to add to a book discussion on here, I’m going to need about a 16 month heads up on the book.
Keith,
You said in your chat yesterday that The Road was brilliant but there was no way in hell you’ll go see the movie? Why “no” on the movie?
Hey Keith (or anyone else with input), I’ve seen you mention brining on here before. My father and I are going to attempt to make our own corned beef. Have you done this before, or do you have any advice? This is going to be my first brining/corned beef undertaking.
I’ve brined, but never corned or cured.
Josh, I don’t believe I could ever un-see the cellar scene.
I can see where you’re coming from. I didn’t know if you were one of those “the movie will never be as good as the book so why am I going to waste my time” guys or if it was something like this. I’m looking forward to seeing it, but that cellar scene; you can’t unring that bell.
I really enjoyed The Road (the book). But, I think some books are better to leave to your imagination then have to see it on the screen. I liked No Country for Old Men alot, but doubt I will see this one.
I liked The Road as well, and do plan to see the movie. I’m currently a little over 200 pages into Blood Meridian, and that would definitely be a much harder movie to sit through.
I would guess it would have to be some sort of horror/western. Regardless, the level of violence makes The Road seems like a children’s book by comparison.
If you like good, disciplined prose and relevant character development, you’ll love Tree of Smoke’s book jacket.