∎ PDF Crooked Letter Crooked Letter A Novel Tom Franklin 9780060594664 Books

Crooked Letter Crooked Letter A Novel Tom Franklin 9780060594664 Books

Download As PDF : Crooked Letter Crooked Letter A Novel Tom Franklin 9780060594664 Books

Crooked Letter Crooked Letter A Novel Tom Franklin 9780060594664 Books

Simply brilliant. Tom Franklin has crafted a work of literary grace here that combines a compelling mystery of two childhood friends brought together in adulthood by terrible consequences and fate. Extraordinarily appealing to readers who enjoy the mastery of the written word or the thrill of the arresting mystery, Franklin has attained a level few fiction authors ever acheive with “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter.”

Larry Ott and Silas “32” Jones, one white and the other black, grow up in lower east Mississippi, becoming friends as young boys in spite of every societal barrier preventing it. Developing a natural affinity, their relationship is nonetheless torn apart by the ever abhorrent racism that is sadly part of the culture of that area and of those times. Silas turns to baseball where he has University level talent while Larry remains at home, an introspective, reading type who has few friends.

One evening while Larry and Silas are both in high school, Larry is curiously asked by his neighbor, the attractive Cindy Walker, for a date at the local drive-in. One thing leads to another and Cindy is never seen again, leaving Larry as the obvious suspect. Never finding a body nor soliciting a confession, Larry is then forced to live a life of constant suspicion and turmoil. Inheriting a car repair shop from his father, he has no customers nor friends. Silas, meanwhile, returns from Ole Miss as town Constable, making it a point to ignore Larry, more from the way their friendship ended than anything to do with the Walker case.

Up to this point Franklin has wonderfully set the stage with careful and deeply rooted character development. Slipping between the past and contemporary events, he asserts Larry and Silas’s roles while shrewdly introducing support actors, all leading to the highlight of the story. Suddenly another young woman goes missing and the onus of guilt comes heavily upon Larry again. Silas, meanwhile, is somewhat circumspect and it is with this dramatic psychological mystery that the story then takes off. Old demons are uncovered and lost truths retributed in an amazingly wrought conclusion in which Franklin achieves satisfaction for all genres. I was particularly drawn to Franklin’s overall depiction of Larry Ott and his lifelong struggle…learning that much of it was auto-biographical, it is one that struck me deeply and has stayed with me in the days since I’ve completed this work.

A serious and, at the same time fun work of fiction, “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter” is simply a must read. Tom Franklin is masterful in all aspects of the novel and I’d wager that readers will look to his other works for more of his intriguing writing skills. I know for sure that I will.


Tags : Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel [Tom Franklin] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In the 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas 32 Jones were boyhood pals in a small town in rural Mississippi. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry was the child of lower-middle-class white parents,Tom Franklin,Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel,William Morrow,0060594667,Crime,City and town life - Mississippi,City and town life;Mississippi;Fiction.,Male friendship,Male friendship;Fiction.,Psychological fiction,Psychological fiction.,AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY FICTION,American Contemporary Fiction - Individual Authors +,City and town life,FICTION Crime,FICTION Literary,FICTION Small Town & Rural,FICTION Thrillers Crime,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction General,Fiction-Coming of Age,GENERAL,General Adult,Mississippi,United States

Crooked Letter Crooked Letter A Novel Tom Franklin 9780060594664 Books Reviews

The beginning of the book didn't draw me in too much. It moved slowly because the author spends a lot of time giving details which aren't relevant. However, I did like how the story switches back and forth between the current day and the past when the two main characters were kids.

The best thing about this book is the theme which is that a lack of courage to do the right thing can greatly affect other people to the point of ruining their lives. The book was slow until this theme was revealed, but after that point it was enjoyable.

The book also did a nice job of getting into the two main characters which were flawed but likable. However, the author continued to give details which weren't relevant to the story line and which slowed down the narrative.
Tom Franklin's "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" has been referred to as a mystery, but it is so much more than that. Set in the southeast corner of Mississippi, land of tiny towns on their way down, and larger towns consisting mostly of churches and strip-malls, Franklin's book goes far past the mystery genre, past the standard "who done it".

Franklin writes of two men in their early 40's who have had a tangled relationship since they first met in their early teens. Silas Jones, is a black policeman, better known by his nickname "32", which he acquired as a top baseball prospect at Ol' Miss. Larry Ott, is a reclusive white man who lives alone, shunned by the townspeople for an unsubstantiated murder charge from his middle teen years. What is the true relationship between the two men?

When another young woman goes missing, the local law enforcement questions Ott, but gets nowhere with the investigation. "Things" occur, life-long held secrets are revealed, and the ending is quite tidy. But its not the book's plot that is the focus of the story, but rather the relationships between the various townspeople and how emotion and friendship and love are conveyed. Not one of the characters is simply drawn; all are complex personalities and are shown in their complexities.

Some reviewers have compared Franklin's work to that of William Faulkner. I have never been able to quite make it though the few Faulkner books I've tried to read, but Franklin's writing is to me far simpler and understandable. That's not to say in any that "Crooked Letter" is a "simple" read. It's not, it's just not as "dense" as I've found Faulkner. (But that's a whole 'nother topic!) Franklin has written a marvelous book here and one well worth recommending.
Animal abuse/torture

Short review read it!

Stand-alone that is easy to follow and difficult to put down. Some sections are emotionally charged due to content. Minor editing errors, no drag-you-down drama. There is graphic violence. Not all questions are answered.

Intriguing storyline with descriptive, powerful writing that draws the reader into each scene. Although it bounces between past and present, each section is clearly marked so the reader is never confused.

Realistic procedures, actions and reactions. Believable characters with distinct personalities. Thought-provoking dialogue.

I may re-read this story and look forward to other works by this author.
I have always been a sucker for Southern Gothic style, and I bought this on a deal after Christmas. I love the slow unfolding of the story, the depth of the characters, and just the authentic feel of the small town. The author describes everyone and everything so well, that you feel as though you'd moved into town and followed everyone around. Since this is the first I've read from Franklin, I now want to go and find more of his books. Though the pace was slow, it was not boring. This was one you could enjoy over time, but always wanting to get back to town and see what will happen next.
Simply brilliant. Tom Franklin has crafted a work of literary grace here that combines a compelling mystery of two childhood friends brought together in adulthood by terrible consequences and fate. Extraordinarily appealing to readers who enjoy the mastery of the written word or the thrill of the arresting mystery, Franklin has attained a level few fiction authors ever acheive with “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter.”

Larry Ott and Silas “32” Jones, one white and the other black, grow up in lower east Mississippi, becoming friends as young boys in spite of every societal barrier preventing it. Developing a natural affinity, their relationship is nonetheless torn apart by the ever abhorrent racism that is sadly part of the culture of that area and of those times. Silas turns to baseball where he has University level talent while Larry remains at home, an introspective, reading type who has few friends.

One evening while Larry and Silas are both in high school, Larry is curiously asked by his neighbor, the attractive Cindy Walker, for a date at the local drive-in. One thing leads to another and Cindy is never seen again, leaving Larry as the obvious suspect. Never finding a body nor soliciting a confession, Larry is then forced to live a life of constant suspicion and turmoil. Inheriting a car repair shop from his father, he has no customers nor friends. Silas, meanwhile, returns from Ole Miss as town Constable, making it a point to ignore Larry, more from the way their friendship ended than anything to do with the Walker case.

Up to this point Franklin has wonderfully set the stage with careful and deeply rooted character development. Slipping between the past and contemporary events, he asserts Larry and Silas’s roles while shrewdly introducing support actors, all leading to the highlight of the story. Suddenly another young woman goes missing and the onus of guilt comes heavily upon Larry again. Silas, meanwhile, is somewhat circumspect and it is with this dramatic psychological mystery that the story then takes off. Old demons are uncovered and lost truths retributed in an amazingly wrought conclusion in which Franklin achieves satisfaction for all genres. I was particularly drawn to Franklin’s overall depiction of Larry Ott and his lifelong struggle…learning that much of it was auto-biographical, it is one that struck me deeply and has stayed with me in the days since I’ve completed this work.

A serious and, at the same time fun work of fiction, “Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter” is simply a must read. Tom Franklin is masterful in all aspects of the novel and I’d wager that readers will look to his other works for more of his intriguing writing skills. I know for sure that I will.