Robert sullivan, new york timesbestselling author of rats powerful and moving. On the eve of his thirtyfifth birthday, the unnamed black narrator. Jul 03, 2009 i have an emotional relationship with a fish. As he struggles to pull money together to provide for his children, his story emerges as a powerful statement about american society.
Its one of a few placeholders the protagonist of michael thomass first novel, man gone down, offers up as a clue to his. It doesnt matter if thats really his name, though, because like melvilles enlightened nonhero, this man does not expect to survive the journey. His writing has appeared in the new york times, a public space, and the anthology the book of dads. When i was in the newspaper business and we did content surveys, there was usually a box that said not written for people like me. The unnamed narrator is on a mission, which he accomplishes at least.
The 35yearold narrator of thomass debut novel is a man of many talents. Buy man gone down by michael thomas, in very good condition. Thomas a writer of enthralling voice and startling insight. Michael thomas s man gone down is about a man who is definitely on his way down, but he does not go down without a fight. Ill at ease in the white world his parents idealism groomed him to succeed in, this fiercely ambitious writer is jobless and broke. He has four days to come up with the money to keep his kids in school and make a down payment on an apartment for them to. Hes a father of three in a biracial marriage trying to. Written by michael thomas, audiobook narrated by beresford bennett. Impac dublin prize for man gone down gives its author. Michael thomass writing recalls some of the great american masters, including ralph ellison, but his debut is wholly and distinctly an original. Man gone down charts a fourday, homeric trek through what makes america and new york a social and racial nightmare as well as a dream that incredibly can still come true.
American writer michael thomas won one of the worlds most lucrative literary prizes thursday for his debut novel, man gone down. Its one of a few placeholders the protagonist of michael thomas s first novel, man gone down, offers up as a clue to his identity. Ambitiousthe book is filled with some virtuoso passages that expose the subtle degrees of. Its one of a few placeholders the protagonist of michael thomass first novel, man gone down, offers up as a clue to his identity. This is not post 911 fiction, but its out there as a metaphor, make of it what youthe reader will. One mans desperate scramble for cash, shaped into an outsized metaphorical novel on race, class and other american tensions. Literatureand the worldwould be well served by more. Jun 12, 2009 american writer michael thomas won one of the worlds most lucrative literary prizes thursday for his debut novel, man gone down. Robert sullivan, new york timesbestselling author of rats.
Man gone down by michael thomas cover photo the telegraph. Its a strange thing to go through life as a social experiment, the wildhearted narrator tells us in michael thomass jazzy, sinewy debut novel, man gone down black cat. Man gone down, by michael thomas, is the winner of 2009s most lucrative literary prize, the dublin impac award. Michael thomas s most popular book is man gone down. Jun 11, 2009 the 200809 book award season has come to a close with the awarding of the international impac dublin literary award to man gone down by michael thomas. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading man gone down. Michael thomass most popular book is man gone down. Michael thomas a novel about a young black father of three in a biracial marriage trying to claim a piece of the american dream. Read man gone down a novel by michael thomas available from rakuten kobo. Born poor, black and brilliant in a boston ghetto, the unnamed man of the title is, at 35, crashing at a. Man gone down by michael thomassarah churchwell on an intelligent and ambitious debut novel of a struggle to fulfil american. Michael thomas received his ba from hunter college and his mfa from warren wilson college. On the eve of his thirtyfifth birthday, the unnamed black narrator of man gone down finds himself broke, estranged from his family, and living in the bedroom of a friends sixyearold child. The images of the twin towers coming down and people falling and jumping from them is touched upon only briefly early on in michael thomas coming of middle age novel.
The relatives of his wife, who is white, are condescending without being. The debut novel of american author michael thomas, man gone down has been featured in a multitude of prominent literary journals such as. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. He crosses the brooklyn bridge and we follow, down one street and up the next, as with him, we experience poverty and human suffering in graphic and smelly detail.
His unnamed narrator is broke, estranged from his wife and children and temporarily living in a friend s childs room, while desperately trying to figure out his life. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Its an ambitious ideawith some obvious parallels to ralph ellisons invisible manand the book is filled with some virtuoso passages that expose the subtle degrees. He won the 2009 international dublin literary award for his debut novel man gone down, receiving a prize of 100,000. Join the leading website for book clubs with over 35,000 clubs and 20,000 reading guides. The awardwinning debut novel of race and family that casts a new light on urban life in brooklyn time out new york.
It described man gone down as a drama of individual survival set against the myth of an integrated and racially normalized america and said it shows, in unsentimental clarity, the way the future can close mercilessly on those marginalized by race. The unnamed narrator sets out to tell his difficult. I thought man gone down was a very solid book and i enjoyed it a great deal. Jun 23, 2009 even before the unexpected announcement came this month, michael thomas had enjoyed a run of good luck with man gone down, his first novel. Man gone down by michael thomas 2006, paperback for sale. He has four days to come up with the money to keep his kids in school and make a down payment on an apartment for them to live in. May 24, 2009 15 responses to man gone down, by michael thomas trevor says. As he struggles to pull money together to provide for his children, hi. Freebooknotes found 8 important quotes from 6 key chapters of man gone down by michael thomas. He writes like an angel who has seen dark times and who has had to reckon with all kinds of demons, both blessed and cursed with a seared soul. Born poor, black and brilliant in a boston ghetto, the unnamed man of the title is, at 35, crashing at a friends place in new york, trying to scrape. Its an ambitious ideawith some obvious parallels to ralph ellisons invisible manand the book is filled with some virtuoso passages that expose the subtle degrees of racism in the narrators world.
Man gone down ebook by michael thomas 9781555847456. Prize to man gone down author michael thomas sfgate. Hes taught college english, worked construction and played guitar in clubs, all while conquering alcoholism and starting a family in brooklyn. Literatureand the worldwould be well served by more like. In man gone down, michael thomas displays a gift that is rare and deep. Hes a brilliant scholar, a construction labourer, a former. With striking parallels to author michael thomas, our narrator is of mixed race, black, native american and white irish. He teaches at hunter college and lives in brooklyn. Michael thomas is brilliant, and man gone down is riveting. So opens man gone down, the debut novel by michael thomas, which recently won the impac award, the worlds most lucrative literary prize. Jonathan durbin, people ambitious the book is filled with some virtuoso passages that expose the subtle degrees of racism in the narrators world. He has four days to come up with the money to keep the kids in school and make a down payment on an apartment for them in which to live.
So opens man gone down, the debut novel by michael thomas, which recently won the impac award, the. Michael thomass man gone down is about a man who is definitely on his way down, but he does not go down without a fight. Man gone down, by michael thomas by kevinfromcanada. On the eve of his thirtyfifth birthday, the unnamed black narrator of. It won the 2009 international dublin literary award, with thomas receiving a prize of 100,000. Michael thomas is one of those writers, and hes been gifted with a dynamic voice as well as with a story worthy of our attention. A panel of judges from ireland, britain, switzerland and canada. Its a strange thing to go through life as a social experiment, the wildhearted narrator tells us in michael thomas s jazzy, sinewy debut novel, man gone down black cat. On the eve of his thirtyfifth birthday, the unnamed black narrator of man gone down finds himself broke, estranged from his white wife and three children, and living in the bedroom of a friends sixyearold child. The 200809 book award season has come to a close with the awarding of the international impac dublin literary award to man gone down by michael thomas. David haynes, author of the full matilda michael thomas is a thoughtful, intelligent, ambitious writer and man gone down is an impressive first effort. Like the characters of ralph ellison, james baldwin and lorraine hansberry. Man gone down is also recommended by the new york times.
Man gone down by michael thomas books the guardian. While i very rarely abandon a book, ill admit i closed man gone down at page 275 for the last time with about 150 still to go. In its award citation, the fivemember impac dublin jury called mr. The essential gift book for any pet lover reallife tales of. When our man breaks his last ten to buy one we hold our breath. Man gone down, like invisible man, is follows a black protagonist who fails to root himself. Thomass urgent, quicksilver prose makes even the darkest moments of this novel shine. He is the author of man gone down, winner of the impac dublin literary award. Nov 29, 2009 the images of the twin towers coming down and people falling and jumping from them is touched upon only briefly early on in michael thomas coming of middle age novel.
It won the 2009 international dublin literary award, with thomas receiving a prize of. Michael thomas has 154 books on goodreads with 6316 ratings. Man gone down public library of cincinnati and hamilton. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. For your reference, we provided these man gone down quotes with page numbers using the following version of the book. Lucy daniel is impressed by man gone down by michael thomas, a luminous debut novel. Even before the unexpected announcement came this month, michael thomas had enjoyed a run of good luck with man gone down, his first novel. A lot of people describe this as a modern version of invisible man, and whilst i see why the make the comparisons i dont think this novel is quite up to paralleling such an amazing and transformative book.
968 975 1490 682 1364 784 1078 230 142 1133 229 1458 1134 807 60 872 1152 1010 586 1105 105 1247 454 485 1337 345 795 1277 674 928 926 1028 750 34 774 1030 897