Peyton Place (Hardscrabble Books-Fiction of New England) by Grace Metalious
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Book Reviews of Peyton Place (Hardscrabble Books-Fiction of New England)
Book Review: Small Town America in the 1940's
Summary: 5 Stars
What a wonderful book about small town America in the early 40's. The characters in this book are very well developed, so that you almost feel you are living in the town with them. The people from the good side and the bad side of town. The two most dislikeable characters in town are of course from entirely different sides. The richest man in town who is a greedy man born into family money, with no feelings for other people except for what they can give him. In this era it was entirely possible to manipulate workers in your factory to do your bidding because you could fire people for any reason whatsoever back then. And Rodney Harrington does just that. He raises his son to be even worse than himself, with no regard for anyone except himself and what others can bring to him or give to him.And Lucas Cross, from the poorest part of town, who drinks, beats his wife and children, and even worse. These characters are painted well, and you will despise both for what they are. There is the kindly doctor, the newspaper editor, the spinster schoolteacher, the crazy old lady and her cat, the busybodies, and more.
While not particularly shocking in this day and age, in the late 40's the small town issues that are addressed out in the open in this novel were strictly taboo to discuss at the time. Constance and her carefully orchestrated lie about her past. Poor Norman, who you know will never escape the clingy, desperate clutches of his mother. Selena, who bears more than her share of tragedy with dignity. Ted, who in the end lost his honor but was not even aware of it, becoming a replica of his own deceitful parents.
And Allison, who the book follows most closely. She is the Daughter of Constance, and the story starts with her just entering high school and follows her through graduation and moving to New York for a brief period of time.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it seemed to pull me into the story of the town and kept me there by peeling back the layers of the town a little bit at a time. Not an action packed book, but certainly not boring. You will find yourself becoming involved in the characters lives, and by the talent of good author you will either care a great deal about them or hate their guts.
As a footnote, to the questions regarding the Tom Makris/Mike Rossi issue, I have the 1956 paperback publication of Peyton Place, and Constance's husband's name is Mike Rossi. The name change may have been done only in the more modern releases of the book. Why? I have no idea.
Book Review: The book that lifted the lid off a New England town
Summary: 5 Stars
Years ago, after I first read this book, I recommended it to a friend. Not expecting much from such an old novel, he picked it up and a week later he told me that darned if he couldn't stop reading it, with each page bringing new revelations and shocks.
If you only know "Peyton Place" from the defanged 1957 Mark Robson film, then this book will be an eye-opener. The movie discarded most of the truly sensational bits, softened up the characters - even changing their fates - and the result was a movie that, due to the censorship of the time, wasn't anywhere near as much fun as it could have been. Grace Metalious's novel, on the other hand, still retains its ability to shock and remains the quintessential page-turner and its influence on other writers is evident. (Think "'Salem's Lot" without the vampires but all the scandal.)
As with any book, there are some drawbacks. Metalious, a famously complex human being in her own right, mercilessly skewers almost all the female characters. The women of Peyton Place are a collection of petty, shrewish, abominable characters with very few redeeming qualities; even the book's main female characters, Constance and Allison MacKenzie are icy and whiny, respectively. Allison especially never gets over being a snivelling, whiny young woman and I lost sympathy for her as the novel progressed. The only two female characters who are sympathetic are the spinsterish, sharp-as-a-tack schoolteacher and the tragic Selena Cross. The men of Peyton Place fare much better under Metalious' gaze and, despite their flaws, all stick together and form a brotherhood of loyalty.
Metalious went on to write a forgettable sequel (much of which was ghostwritten anyhow after Metalious had trouble completing it) and two other novels before she died, but none had the impact of this. I would love to go back in time to when the book was originally published to get people's reactions. Despite the outcry and savage reviews over the book, it became a phenomenal bestseller, prompting Metalious to say, "If I'm a lousy writer then an awful lot of people have lousy taste." "Peyton Place" is far from being the product of a lousy writer and is a darn good (in fact, great) read that is just as appealing now as it was upon its original release.
Book Review: A wonderful book deserving of the title "Classic".......
Summary: 5 Stars
My mother, who was born and raised in New Hampshire, and I were having a conversation about books one afternoon. I told her that I had seen someone on the subway with a copy of Peyton Place, which inspired her to launch into some stories of the controversy that had surrounded the book upon its publication, and the scandal that reverberated through small-town New England, with each town trying to figure out if they were the subject of Metaliouss work.I finally read Peyton Place several years ago, long after it wasnt hot stuff or controversial. Certainly it isnt shocking by todays standards but the book presents an interesting view of 1950s America, far removed from the soda pop and sundae image that nostalgia has tried to recreate.
The story centers around Allison McKenzie, a girl coming of age and facing all of the challenges of growing up in a small town without a father. Her mother, Constance, is emotionally distance at the novels beginning but warms steadily as she undertakes a romance of her own. Matt Swain is presented as the doctor with a conscience, and the impoverished Cross family provides an ample contrast to the genteel country setting. The book, in many ways, reminds me of Edith Wharton- characters whose lives are woven together in a tremendous fabric of narrative and insight. All characters seem to struggle with the perceived morality forced upon them by the social morays of life in a small town, and the manner in which the deal with problems provides much of the plot that propels this book. In short, this book is wonderful and probably on my top three or four lists of favorites. Its exciting without being tawdry, and something I wish I had read a long time ago.
Book Review: Small town secrets
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved "Peyton Place!" Written in 1956, this book caused a commotion when it was published due to its many illicit topics, which were considered very taboo at the time. More than 50 years later, this book still triumphs as an excellent portrayal of a small New England town full of mysterious characters and many hidden secrets.
Allison MacKenzie is the central character of the novel, which is set between 1937 and 1944. Allison is a young schoolgirl who struggles to find acceptance and contentment among her classmates and also pines away for her missing father. Meanwhile, Allison's mother, Constance, fights her attraction to the school's new headmaster, Tom Makris, while fighting to keep the truth about Allison's father under wraps. There are many other people roaming around Peyton Place, including Selena Cross, a classmate of Allison's who falls in love with the charming Ted Carter but hides the disturbing truth about the reality of her home life. Leslie Harrington is the richest man in town and is used to getting his way with everything, but he refuses to try and tame his son, Rodney, who spirals out of control. Add to the bunch a respected physician, two nasty spinster sisters, and the town drunks, and you have all the makings of a fantastic novel complete with violence, illegitimacy, sex, and everything else you could possibly ask for!
Yes, "Peyton Place" is kind of trashy in a "Valley of the Dolls" kind of way, but that doesn't change the fact that it's entertaining and brilliant. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to sink their teeth into a thoroughly engrossing story.
Book Review: "Coining The Phrase"
Summary: 5 Stars
This novel has generated enough good reviews to do it justice here, so I will keep my remarks simple and short. I first read the book as a teenager, mostly because it was forbidden, and my curiosity was aroused. Then, not long ago, I drug it out again as I am prone to do in a nostalgic moment. The original story of "Small Town Everywhere" and it's closet full of seamy, steamy skeletons is still good, though it's shock value has been muted by time and it's inevitable changes in attitudes. Peyton Place deserves it's place in literature because it dared to challenge the status quo. (that may have gotten a little out of hand but it was needed at the time)
However, it also takes a powerful idea to result in a "coining of a phrase" that comes down over decades, perhaps centuries now - and this book certainly does that - and no one could have predicted it at the time. The words " A Peyton Place" are used where no other description is needed - human nature, even when denied and cloistered, veiled in hypocrisy will always triumph somehow in many different forms (though not always in the purest) though rarely openly, even today, if enough "political pride and position" are at stake.
Which may actually be a good thing, given the alternative.