Tom Wolfe no relation to Thomas

He died last Monday. He was 88.

From 1965 to 1981, Wolfe would produce some of his most famous nonfiction books, including The Electric Kool-Aid Test (1968) and The Right Stuff (1979), but it was his bestselling 1987 debt novel The Bonfire of the Vanities�"an epoch-defining tale of ambition, racism, social class, politics, and greed in 1980s New York City.

I have to confess I've never read any of Tom's books and I will remedy that this week. So because Wes suggested it I'm starting with Kool-aid.
Opinion to follow, what say you.

Don't tell any one but I ditched the book on chapter 4. Not my cup of tea. I thought he tried to hard to own a scene that didn't belong to him, and in my Marine based upbringing it surely didn't belong to me. So many people have loved this book written by a talented and brilliant writer, I'm just afraid this small time girl can't hang with what he's laying down.

For those who love this book hop on in and give the folks something positive to consider.
:)

Reviews

[gram linski]

Haha, loved this, took me a few reads of all his books to get the gist, no offense but your review reads like an English lit test

[Cherrie Palmer]

No offense:) taken.

I had made up my mind to read some of his work only to discover I am not a fan. Sometimes I can read a book I don't like as a whole to enjoy the writers skill and style, but that was not the case here.

[gram linski]

The films are not bad, but that might have more to do with the Director

[Cherrie Palmer]

I'm sure, that is the case so many times the director doesn't just give a book life but gives the story a different one.
As a rule I find if I like the movie I will love the book.

[Neville]

I have not read any of these either.. there are simply so many things I plan not doing, I just dont know where not to start..... . I would certainly recommend reading both Pat Barker & Richard Brautigan though.... Neville

[Cherrie Palmer]

that's good to know, I've not read either of them. I'll have to look them up.

[Neville]

I recommend starting with .............. revenge of the lawn by R.Brautigan

Regeneration by P. Barker :)

[Cherrie Palmer]

Well, thank you

[Neville]

followed by Trout Fishing in America and The Ghost Road....... N

[Cherrie Palmer]

I might have to start with Trout Fishing

[Neville]

no flies on you Cherrie :)

[Cherrie Palmer]

I'm close to the White River and do a bit of trout fishing myself.

[Neville]

............... :)

[Kent Rawski]

Heinlein stranger in a strange land enthralled me when young also Carlos castenada the teachings of Don Juan very fantastic

[Cherrie Palmer]

do you know if you read the uncut version of the book before the publisher edited it?

[Kent Rawski]

Hmm don't know it was a long time ago

[Cherrie Palmer]

I have not read this book yet but I do know the publisher thought it racy and scaled it down. After his death his widow published the uncut version in 1991.

[Kent Rawski]

then it was the cut version and still racy lol

[Cherrie Palmer]

well then that must stir the old curiosity then.

[Ken Simm.]

Have tried several times. Still have that particular book on my bookshelves but mainly because it looks cool and in case I am ever interviewed in front of it. Again, I agree, remarkable books but not my thing. Remarkable film but again not my thing. Bloody good title however.
Suggestions for further reading? Anything by John Irving, John Fowles, Richard Brautigan, Robert Heinlein et al.

[Cherrie Palmer]

No, but i want to read The Moon Is A Harsh Misteress.
It is a scifi classic, not usually my first choice but its on my list for this year.

[kentuck14]

Tried reading the Kool-Aid book years ago . . . but was too young, too stupid, too distracted perhaps.
Now that I'm old, still stupid, not to mention, still distracted . . . . . . what were we talking about!!!!???

[Cherrie Palmer]

Lol. oh no now I'm afraid.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I think he's going to lose me around chapter 4. I do like his since of storytelling but I can't hang with him.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

have seen the movies...and imagine how good the books are...but I have one that you may really like, Cherrie....have you ever read Tom Robbins' "Even Cowgirls get the Blues"?
it's pretty offbeat...my favorite single novel as it amused me from the first page to the last...just a thought.
j.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I'll give it a look thank you.