- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Riverhead (HC) (Sep 17 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1573222240
- ISBN-13: 978-1573222242
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 590 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
American-born novelist Moran (The Man in the Box) portrays a slice of Sydney life in this tale of one man's emotional blindness. Harry Hull, who narrates his story with the bitter clarity of hindsight, dabbles with speed during adolescence, and his addiction leads to auto theft and a term in Vietnam in lieu of jail. Shredded by shrapnel in Phuoc Tuy, Harry returns to Australia suitably chastened and moves in with his dad, who uses his pull with the pressmen's union to get Harry a job as a reporter on the Herald. It is there he meets the love of his life, journalist Lucy Whitmoor. The first half of the novel alternates between Harry's seven-year affair with Lucy and his father's mental and physical decay, brought on by a stroke and a mysterious brain ailment, both of which trigger his WWII service memories. When Joe dies, Harry clams up. His emotional withdrawal precipitates his breakup with Lucy, who leaves Sydney pregnant with his child. Harry is torn up, but eventually accepts her absence and meets another woman. Then one day Lucy is at his door again, announcing, to his shock, that she gave the baby up for adoption-but she won't say why. When he finally learns the reason and understands Lucy's sacrifice, Harry suffers the bitter pain of insight. Harry's bluff, vernacular voice never sugarcoats his impoverished personality, a mixture of rage and self-loathing. He's a hard guy to like, and Moran risks losing the reader's sympathy for his difficult protagonist, whose inability to express emotion becomes annoying after a while. The irony of the denouement, however, and its realistic assessment of Harry's future, is genuinely affecting.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Harry Hull returns to Australia after his Vietnam service as little more than a shell of a man. His psyche already damaged by his mother's early death, he feels a distance between himself and those around him, and his guarded and self-protective manner continually undercut his attempts to find happiness. The novel follows him through two decades, focusing on three defining experiences: his long and complicated relationship with Lucy Whitmoor, whom he meets as a young reporter and who will eventually bear their daughter; the emotional turmoil surrounding his father's illness and death; and the near-tragic accident of a neighbor's daughter. Through it all, Harry stumbles toward a bittersweet self-knowledge and a resigned sense of peace with himself. Despite his flaws, Harry is an appealing, very human protagonist, and American novelist Moran (The Man in the Box) convincingly places the action in Australia. A worthwhile choice for most public libraries. Lawrence Rungren, Merrimack Valley Lib. Consortium, Andover, MA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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First Sentence
HERE'S A FAIR ONE: Born blind. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
HERE'S A FAIR ONE: Born blind. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
insightful look from within of an emotionally blind person,
By
This review is from: What Harry Saw A Novel (Hardcover)
Following the tradition set by his father and grandfather, Australian Harry Hull is severely wounded serving in Nam. Harry returns to live with his father in the Sidney suburbs. His GI Joe dad, known for drinking beer with a straw due to a World War II injury, obtains a job for his son as a reporter with the Herald. While working there, Harry falls in love with Lucy Whitmoor. They share a seven-year affair while he observes the deterioration of his father.When Joe dies, Harry feels alone and withdraws emotionally from everyone including Lucy. This ends their relationship as she can no longer reach him. Lucy leaves Sydney carrying Harry's child. When she returns she informs Harry she gave up their child for adoption. Harry needs to know why, but the truth may prove more devastating then he will ever want to see. Thomas Moran leaves no rock unturned with this insightful look from within of an "emotionally blind" person that seems more like an everyman "nowhere man". By the time Harry learns the meaning of life, he is too acrimoniously human. The story line is told from Harry's Monday morning perspective as he begins to understand what he lost. WHAT HARRY SAW is well written and as deep and baring as a tale can be, but should carry a warning label that this is also as sobering as any novel has been in years. The light at the end of the tunnel is an on rushing train fueled by despair and hopelessness. Harriet Klausner
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review) 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
insightful look from within of an emotionally blind person,
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: What Harry Saw A Novel (Hardcover)
Following the tradition set by his father and grandfather, Australian Harry Hull is severely wounded serving in Nam. Harry returns to live with his father in the Sidney suburbs. His GI Joe dad, known for drinking beer with a straw due to a World War II injury, obtains a job for his son as a reporter with the Herald. While working there, Harry falls in love with Lucy Whitmoor. They share a seven-year affair while he observes the deterioration of his father.When Joe dies, Harry feels alone and withdraws emotionally from everyone including Lucy. This ends their relationship as she can no longer reach him. Lucy leaves Sydney carrying Harry's child. When she returns she informs Harry she gave up their child for adoption. Harry needs to know why, but the truth may prove more devastating then he will ever want to see. Thomas Moran leaves no rock unturned with this insightful look from within of an "emotionally blind" person that seems more like an everyman "nowhere man". By the time Harry learns the meaning of life, he is too acrimoniously human. The story line is told from Harry's Monday morning perspective as he begins to understand what he lost. WHAT HARRY SAW is well written and as deep and baring as a tale can be, but should carry a warning label that this is also as sobering as any novel has been in years. The light at the end of the tunnel is an on rushing train fueled by despair and hopelessness. Harriet Klausner |
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