Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Business and Leadership Publishing (2014), Kindle Edition, 646 pages
Description
You Can't Go Home Again is a novel by Thomas Wolfe published posthumously in 1940. The novel tells the story of George Webber, a fledgling author, who writes a book that makes frequent references to his home town of Libya Hill. The book is a national success but the residents of the town, unhappy with what they view as Webber's distorted depiction of them, send the author menacing letters and death threats.
User reviews
LibraryThing member patience_crabstick
I loved this book. It's long, yes, but Wolfe's writing is so rich. As with Look Homeward Angel, this is the sort of book you need to read twice to truly appreciate. My favorite chapter was the description of his British charwoman and her views of the world.
LibraryThing member HankIII
This was the very first Wolfe novel I read; at the time, I liked it, and even wrote a literary analysis for my Southern Lit class. It was the autobiographical aspect of the novel as well as the philosophical ramblings of alienation as an artist that appealed to me.It soon led me to read Look
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Homeward, Angel, which I found less appealing. Show Less
LibraryThing member JBreedlove
Wolfe's second novel is based on his experiences in New York after his fame of writing a tell all novel about his home town. Not as descriptive or compelling as Look Homeward, Angel but still a good read.
LibraryThing member foof2you
A classic story of a man leaving his home town, then writing a book about it. They always say write about what you know and Thomas Wolfe does. We see how the writer is treated in his home town once the book is published and the town folk figure out the story.
LibraryThing member heidijane
This book was ok, but it just didn't hold my attention. I found myself skimming over pages and pages of detail. So I decided that life is too short to persevere with this one and have put it aside for now.
LibraryThing member abbeyhar
this book is 700 pages long. I got 250 pages in and want sure what else I could get out of it. it was kind of interesting at some points but seemed mostly overwrought and of its time. I kept sending pictures of passages to my friend because they made me laugh with their hyperbolic and grandiose
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writing style. I don't normally give up on books , but just couldn't make it through the whole thing. glad I gave it a shot, as it is a classic. Show Less
LibraryThing member abbeyhar
this book is 700 pages long. I got 250 pages in and want sure what else I could get out of it. it was kind of interesting at some points but seemed mostly overwrought and of its time. I kept sending pictures of passages to my friend because they made me laugh with their hyperbolic and grandiose
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writing style. I don't normally give up on books , but just couldn't make it through the whole thing. glad I gave it a shot, as it is a classic. Show Less
LibraryThing member abbeyhar
this book is 700 pages long. I got 250 pages in and want sure what else I could get out of it. it was kind of interesting at some points but seemed mostly overwrought and of its time. I kept sending pictures of passages to my friend because they made me laugh with their hyperbolic and grandiose
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writing style. I don't normally give up on books , but just couldn't make it through the whole thing. glad I gave it a shot, as it is a classic. Show Less
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
And you can be sure that Wolfe will tell you all the myraid reasons why!! Over and over again...If it wasn't so poetic and so true, it would be tedious.
LibraryThing member Library_Lin
I don't read a lot of fiction, but since I was in high school, I've been told that Thomas Wolfe was one of America's greatest writers. Since, unlike Fitzgerald and Hemingway, I have never been required to read his work, I thought I would begin with You Can't Go Home Again, which has been called his
To begin with, I didn't care for the characters. Generally, to really enjoy fiction, I must like or at least relate to the characters. But here, I was either completely indifferent toward, or actively disliked, all of them. Next, the writing style could be difficult. I understand that the style was meant to mirror the atmosphere George Webber, the main and semi-autobiographical character, was immersed in. But it was still difficult to wade through. George did have his issues.
What kept me reading were the moments of startling genius that blazed through. I would find myself wanting to toss the book into the backyard, only to be suddenly be pulled up short with an astounding insight into human character made, seemingly out of nowhere. These moments kept me reading.
In the end, I found myself both pleased and aggravated with George's sincere but arrogant assertions that his understanding of how a person ought to behave is the only decent course available. After completing it, I found that the book was published posthumously by Wolfe's editor. This is not Max Perkins on whom Fox Edwards was based, but the editor Wolfe left Perkins for. That explained some things. I give this book a high rating because, in spite of its flaws, it forced me to confront unpleasant traits in human beings and society. Sometimes I don't know the truth until someone like Wolfe points it out. One day, I may work up my nerve to read Wolfe again.
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magnum opus. The book surprised me. To begin with, I didn't care for the characters. Generally, to really enjoy fiction, I must like or at least relate to the characters. But here, I was either completely indifferent toward, or actively disliked, all of them. Next, the writing style could be difficult. I understand that the style was meant to mirror the atmosphere George Webber, the main and semi-autobiographical character, was immersed in. But it was still difficult to wade through. George did have his issues.
What kept me reading were the moments of startling genius that blazed through. I would find myself wanting to toss the book into the backyard, only to be suddenly be pulled up short with an astounding insight into human character made, seemingly out of nowhere. These moments kept me reading.
In the end, I found myself both pleased and aggravated with George's sincere but arrogant assertions that his understanding of how a person ought to behave is the only decent course available. After completing it, I found that the book was published posthumously by Wolfe's editor. This is not Max Perkins on whom Fox Edwards was based, but the editor Wolfe left Perkins for. That explained some things. I give this book a high rating because, in spite of its flaws, it forced me to confront unpleasant traits in human beings and society. Sometimes I don't know the truth until someone like Wolfe points it out. One day, I may work up my nerve to read Wolfe again.
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LibraryThing member Lapsus16
Long but enchanting. Some of the episodes described are wonderful, and unique. Not for the faint of heart
Awards
Language
Original publication date
1940
1934