Man Gone Down: A Novel

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It's a hit!

One of the best written books I was able to get my hands on this summer. Thomas' writting style was amazing and very refined with excellent (though... (show more)

One of the best written books I was able to get my hands on this summer. Thomas' writting style was amazing and very refined with excellent (though sometimes excessive) description. His passages sometimes came across more like poetry than narrative which was really enjoyable for me.

That said I would not call this novel a page-turner. The nameless protagonist's story is compelling but there are not a great deal of events that transpire. The story contains extensive flashbacks about the narrators troubled past which provide the necessary background for current financial, social, and spiritual problems. But those troubles are left somewhat unresolved by the end of the novel and left me with the feeling that the story was simply incomplete.

All in all it was an excellently written book and worth reading for that reason alone; and I suppose I am not well read enough to decide whether "Man Gone Down" was worth all of the extensive praise that it received. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook-användare

No, it's a flop!

I'm about half-way through this now. I wholeheartedly agree that it rambles, that the writer bores me, makes me hate him, then love him again, and... (show more)

I'm about half-way through this now. I wholeheartedly agree that it rambles, that the writer bores me, makes me hate him, then love him again, and think it's TOTAL stream of conciousness.

That said, I've stuck with it and am looking forward to seeing how it turns out. BUT...as a person who writes...as a mixed child...as a person with responsibilities that sometimes seem bigger than capabilities...I just want to SMACK this character! I want to put him in the therapy he so desperately needs so he can stop whining, start facing his responsibilities, and quit calling himself a "social experiment". I wanted to feel for this character, but I think he embodies what's WRONG with race and class issues in America. But he kinda did it to himself. Everyone faces hard times. If you let them define you, you'll never rise again.

The writer does use some lovely phrases, and I even noted them in pencil in some parts. But somehow, thinking of the protagonist as a whiny, self-defeating loser is NOT what I think the writer had in mind to achieve. But we'll see when it ends I guess! (show less)

 

 

by Facebook-användare

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  Man going down, furthermore, as the reader, you have to be aware not going down with him, hence the impressive use of the American language with all its details. To read this book is to enjoy every letter, every word and every clause. Michael Thomas has got the written word in his hands, furthermore painted every side of this book with beautifully written scenary telling the common story of alianation.

  The theme of this book is racism, however, as the reader and an outsider to the American ... (show more)

  Man going down, furthermore, as the reader, you have to be aware not going down with him, hence the impressive use of the American language with all its details. To read this book is to enjoy every letter, every word and every clause. Michael Thomas has got the written word in his hands, furthermore painted every side of this book with beautifully written scenary telling the common story of alianation.

  The theme of this book is racism, however, as the reader and an outsider to the American society, the focus on skin color seems to me to be more from the protagonist himself, than from his surroundings. As an example, he treats his sons differently, preferring the one with the same skin color as himself. Blaming racism for every bad thing in a life does not seem realistic, however, this may be one of the reasons why he is going down? The theme of the book is important enough, however, I am looking forward to the day when we will not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character. (Freely from the speech of Martin Luther King.)

  That been said; I really enjoyed the ending, which made my day! (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook-användare on Nov 05, 2009 at 07:16PM

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  It is a superb reflection on alienation, race, and family. I am not sure I like the protagonist, but I sure do like the creativity and the challenge of the novel.

   

  by Randal Maurice Jelks on Dec 15, 2007 at 04:48PM

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