Word: skeltons
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
McGuane is rhapsodic in his meticulous, almost poetic description of the inspiration the ocean offers Skelton--seascapes of rocky bottom and tide-waved weeds; schools of fish gliding instinctively past each other without colliding; the expert crafting from scratch of Tom's skiff; the art of guiding that provides a framework within which Skelton makes his last ditch attempt to integrate his psyche with the natural world. Guiding is a one-man job, but Hemingway style requires full exertion of Skelton's intellect, intuition and physical strength in mastering fishing equipment and tides, navigating channels and neighboring keys, and sniffing...
UNLIKE MANY characters in modern novels who are paralyzed by a world that looms absurd and meaningless, Skelton maintains deliberate control by asserting the inviolability of his soul. This opens a great margin of humor in the book, for many experiences that would smash a weaker ego simply glance off Skelton. He is intellectually happy-go-lucky. Reflecting McGuane's authorial faith in the power of words to synthesize coherence from a barrage of external events, Skelton continually articulates his perceptions...
Value is found not in objects or personalities themselves, but in the degree they trigger his mind to acknowledge their identity. When Skelton's skiff is finished and he and his girl Miranda haul it to the harbor, he scorns unearned satisfaction...
...beautiful," said Miranda. She drove, Skelton constantly looking back to see how it was trailing; the bow loomed in the rear window. "Does it mean...
McGuane's prose is precisely crafted and exact, reflecting the high degree of articulation Skelton demands of himself. But it is also extremely fluid, lyrically delineating Skelton's consciousness...