Rock Island Line
Aug 2010 · Milkweed Editions
star
3 reviews
Ebook
425
Pages
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About this ebook
"An authentically great American novel" that follows a young man's descent into darkness after a tragic loss, and his struggle to find renewal ( Booklist, starred review).
Raised in an idyllic Iowa town, young July Montgomery is rocked by the tragic death of his parents. Fleeing to Philadelphia, he fashions a ghostly existence in an underground train station. When a young woman appears to free him from his malaise, they return together to the Iowa heartland, where the novel soars to its heartrending climax. First published to enormous acclaim in 1975, Rock Island Line brings David Rhodes's striking characterizations and unparalleled eye for the telling detail to this tale of paradise lost—and possibly regained.
"Beautiful and haunting . . . I read the book when it first came out over thirty years ago and it has lived in both my heart and head ever since." —Jonathan Carroll, author of Teaching the Dog to Read
Raised in an idyllic Iowa town, young July Montgomery is rocked by the tragic death of his parents. Fleeing to Philadelphia, he fashions a ghostly existence in an underground train station. When a young woman appears to free him from his malaise, they return together to the Iowa heartland, where the novel soars to its heartrending climax. First published to enormous acclaim in 1975, Rock Island Line brings David Rhodes's striking characterizations and unparalleled eye for the telling detail to this tale of paradise lost—and possibly regained.
"Beautiful and haunting . . . I read the book when it first came out over thirty years ago and it has lived in both my heart and head ever since." —Jonathan Carroll, author of Teaching the Dog to Read
"An authentically great American novel" that follows a young man's descent into darkness after a tragic loss, and his struggle to find renewal ( Booklist, starred review).
Raised in an idyllic Iowa town, young July Montgomery is rocked by the tragic death of his parents. Fleeing to Philadelphia,...
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Ratings and reviews
3 reviews
Marilyn Winsor
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April 29, 2014
I enjoyed every bit of this book. I don't know if it is because I identify with the small town people, identify with the character and his survival, or am so drawn into the depth of the writing. I read Driftless first, so learning about July Montgomery's background story was part of the intrigue. I want to read everything by this author now.
g shute
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September 5, 2024
There's not enough stars for this guy's writing.
About the author
As a young man, David Rhodes worked in fields, hospitals, and factories across Iowa. After receiving an MFA in Writing from the University of Iowa Writers Workshop in 1971, he published three novels in rapid succession: The Last Fair Deal Going Down (Atlantic/Little, Brown, 1972), The Easter House (Harper & Row, 1974), and Rock Island Line (Harper & Row, 1975). A motorcycle accident in 1976 left him paralyzed from the waist down, since which time he continued writing but stopped publishing. He lives with his wife, Edna, in Wonewoc, Wisconsin.
As a young man, David Rhodes worked in fields, hospitals, and factories across Iowa. After receiving an MFA in Writing from the University of Iowa Writers Workshop in 1971, he published three novels in rapid succession: The Last Fair Deal Going Down (Atlantic/Little, Brown, 1972), The Easter Hous...
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