Book Review - Midnight Cowboy - James Leo Herlihy
Midnight Cowboy is the powerful and unforgettable novel of the compelling need of human beings for one another -- a wrenching story of pain and loss.
Freewheeling loser Joe Buck arrives in New York City and embarks on a quest to live the American dream. Along the way he meets street hustler and petty criminal Ratso Rizzo. Together, the two form an extraordinary relationship full of heartbreak and hope, resulting in a compelling American novel about the bonds of friendship.
An academy award winner in 1969 in spite of having an X rating, this is one of those classic films that I guess many of you have watched (Midnight Cowboy Movie), I saw the book in popular so decided to pick it up (it's the UK paperback edition).
This is a very well written and well-paced book, it has excellent character development and has a certain way of strolling along that keeps you firmly in its grip.
It raises some interesting moral issues, and a lot about self-perception and ego.
Genital Joe as we could call him is the epitomy of lost youth losing his virginity to some Annie Rottencrotch, he has all the wrong ideas about sex and sexuality.
Being a good looking lad, tall and well built he goes out to make his millions in the world. Like most of us, he ends up finding reality stinks and not much more than that.
The book rolls along and it's hard to put down, it's not lightning fast but it sucks you into the dirty seedy world that Joe falls into.
I finished the whole thing in about 3 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The writing may seem a little simplistic to some, but that's what gives it such a raw and honest charm. It's very real, real people and a real story.
It's gritty at times, explicit, violent and raw but can also be touching showing interesting aspects of humanity.
If you want to read something 'different' than all the pop shit churned out a the moment, take a look at this.
I think it cost me the grand total of RM5.90.
I give it a solid, well-paced 9/10.
Tags: book, book-review, herlihy, james-leo-herlihy, literature, midnight-cowboy, MoviesPosted in Books, Theatre & Literature | -
Related Posts:
- Movie Review - 3:10 to Yuma - Cowboys Yay!
- Sunny Manila & A Night Out With Bryanboy (AGAIN!)
- Live and Loud 2007 Part 1 - James Taylor Quartet
- Book Review - Blah Blah Black Sheep by Maggie Gibson
- Pixart - Photobooks for Your Family and Friends!
- Book Review - Sorting Out Billy by Jo Brand
7 Comments so far
Leave a reply
Using
no brokeback actions ah?
Using
I didn't realise the movie had an X-rating. They must of chopped bits of it to put it on TV in Australia. [Yes, the censors here chop bits too!]
Was a good movie and deserved the academy award.
Using
It's funny because I was watching the old cowboy classic 'The Magnificent Seven' on DVD yesterday.
Another one on my "movie to see" list.
Using
Sounds like a great book. Have to read it sometime.
Using
reminds me of the stupid Osim iGallop ad, gives me nightmares
Using
hmm how did you get the book for Ringgit Malaysia 5.90? Is that from http://www.amazon.com.my or something like that? I thought Amazon.com stopped shipping to international addresses. Anyway I am coming home tomorrow with my cocker spaniel. Hahahaha! Cheers to all.
Using
spiller: Maybe got, scary movie definately got
Dabido: Well remember it was released in 1969, a few years later it was reduced to R rating.
Steffy1811: No, like I said in the review, I bought it from Popular. They often have cheap books and clearance books from the UK if you look around carefully.