A Miracle of Catfish

If you aren't familiar with Larry Brown's writing, I wouldn't start with this book. Fay was the first book of his I read, and did it ever rope me in. This one started out much slower, but it conveyed a depth in his writing that was appropriate for his final novel. What I found most impressive was his ability to portray a variety of characters' feelings and mentalities through a third-person narrative voice. It sometimes felt more intimate than if he were to have written in the first person, which is not so easy to accomplish as a writer. While the story was told through a number of characters' perspectives, it was the little boy and the old man who moved me the most.Overall, this novel is less sensational than the other books of Brown's I've read. Sure, some crazy things happen to keep it interesting, but I also found this to be his most plausible portrayal of daily life in Northern Mississippi. For someone like me who grew up on the urban northern edge of the south, areas like this almost seem like a foreign country to me, and reading this novel felt like I was getting a glimpse into life down there like I'd never be able to get just visiting.The last thing I want to mention that I really loved was the enthusiasm for the characters' way of life that came through in the writing. I am not personally interested in most of the things these characters love, but I do have plenty of passions, and the way Brown wrote about these characters' enthusiasm for fishing, hunting, and working on cars got me to appreciate how they might love that as much as I love surfing or playing music.The only reason I give this four instead of five stars is it would have been nice for the book to come to more of a closure, but considering it is more of a slice of life type book, it certainly does the job in that department. Also, I generally reserve five-star ratings for books I'd guarantee just about anybody would be moved by, if not fall in love with. I don't think just any reader would be able to get into this one, but if you are open to different ways of life and have the patience to let good writing grow on you, this would be a good choice.

I had never read any of Larry Brown's books before so this was an interesting introduction to the very gifted writer. He captures the soul of the southern Mississippi region and paints his characters with a very artistic brush. It was impossible to put this book down and not spend the whole day on my kindle. He makes you feel as though you are right there with these people who you don't really understand and who operate on a whole different level of life than you have ever experienced, but somehow you seem to know and comprehend what is going on. Normally, a writer of this type would try to make you feel guilty that you have a different lifestyle than his characters and he would play on the emotions of pity and condoling the characters, but Larry Brown just lays it out with no "Political Correctness" or guilt trips and tells a plain and simple story. So, it is really too bad that Larry left the scene so early because I can just imagine what else might have been produced. When I compare this book to "Joe", one of his earlier books, the writing in "A Miracle of Catfish", has developed a true maturity and flow. This is a great read and well deserving of the accolades it has received so far.

'A Miracle Of Catfish' was unfinished when author Larry Brown died unexpectedly. Because the book was almost finished, publication of Brown's last offering to his fans was possible. The book uses ellipsis to show where editing was done, and though unfinished, includes the notes that Brown left behind as to how he planned to wrap up the novel.In Brown's languid southern prose, he explores the lives of several people living in the quiet, countrified outskirts of a small town. Cortez Sharp, a 72 year old man who's wife is disabled, decides to dig out a large pond on his property and stock it with catfish. He lives a solitary life, preferring to be left alone with his vegetable patches and herds of cows. His daughter Lucinda lives in Atlanta with her boyfriend Albert, who suffers from Tourettes Syndrome. Cortez calls Albert 'The Retard', driving a wedge between him and his only surviving child. Cortez carries a dark secret with him, one of horrible proportions.There's Jimmy, a ten year old boy with bad teeth, who lives near Cortez's farm in an old trailer. Jimmy struggles with his father's temper, his two half-sisters Evelyn and Velma, and his desire to fix the go-kart his daddy built for him. Jimmy's Daddy (known only in the book as 'Jimmy's Daddy') is a typical redneck loser. He drives around in his old '55 drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, fights with himself over trying to treat Jimmy better, and has an affair with a woman at the stove factory where he works that turns out bad (in pregnancy) which threatens his life and marriage to Jonette.And then there's Cleve, an old black man who used to work for Cortez, mean as a polecat, and murderous to boot. He's been in prison twice and though he swore he'd never go back, he's not quite done committing crimes.Typical of Brown's unhurried and languorous prose, there's lots of smoking, beer drinking, and driving around. There's surprises like DUI's, tractor accidents, unwanted pregnancies, affairs, fishing, hunting, and a young boy worried about having puppies.These aren't exactly people you would want for neighbors, but Brown brings them out fully fleshed and alive, and you know there are people out there just like Brown's characters. Everyday folk struggling with everyday problems, inner monologues that both repulse and enchant, and scenes that will suck you into the story despite their slowly building climaxes.While I highly recommend Brown's work, I would recommend 'Joe', 'Fay', and 'Father And Son' as a warm up to 'A Miracle Of Catfish', simply because this is an unfinished work and may leave the novice Brown reader feeling flat at the abrupt end. It's sad that this is the last time we will hear Brown's voice in the literature world. Enjoy!