Thomas Williams (6) (1926–1990)

It was just about three years ago that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Thomas Williams' The Hair of Harold Roux, which won the National Book Award in 1975. At the time I had a strong desire to read more by Thomas Williams, so this collection of his short stories was the next step. Unfortunately, the outcome was not nearly as positive this time. The stories in Leah, New Hampshire all take place in or around the town of Leah, New Hampshire. While the stories are not connected in any other way, the sharing of this locale allows them to complement one another. This relationship of the stories creates a richer experience for the reader, but does not solve the underlying problem, the stories themselves. I found many of the stories engaging at some point only to feel let down or uninvolved by the end. Instead of letting the story speak for itself, I found Mr. Williams was spending the last few pages of a story explaining his message or trying to add some important insight, instead of allowing the story, the events and the characters to speak for themselves. While the story "Goose Pond" was better than the rest, it's location at the beginning of the collection just built up what were unreasonable expectations and clearly showed what was missing in the other stories. I would not recommend this collection even for short story lovers like myself.… (meer)

In 1975 [b: The Hair of Harold Roux|10002787|The Hair of Harold Roux|Thomas Williams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1312232829l/10002787._SX50_.jpg|1406276] by Thomas Williams shared the National Book Award with [b: Dog Soldiers|380364|Dog Soldiers|Robert Stone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1306365286l/380364._SY75_.jpg|1041095] by Robert Stone. This little reading adventure began with [b: A Flag for Sunrise|241951|A Flag For Sunrise|Robert Stone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408312819l/241951._SY75_.jpg|818563], the first Robert Stone novel that I read, which I very much enjoyed. That led to my reading Dog Soldiers, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. I love reading about the backgrounds of the authors and their works. In reading about Dog Soldiers, I couldn't help but think that if I liked it that much maybe I should try The Hair of Harold Roux. I was intrigued that Robert Stone achieved a level of success and regard, whereas Thomas Williams remains relatively unknown. So I sat down to The Hair of Harold Roux to read a novel, to read a new author and to try to understand this outcome.

Any time sent comparing The Hair of Harold Roux and Dog Soldiers was short-lived. They are very different novels, but both deserving of admiration. The Hair of Harold Roux was complex and multi-layered in its construction, which I enjoy. An English professor in New Hampshire, Aaron Benham, is an established novelist, which is autobiographical in its outline of Thomas Williams. He is on leave writing a novel whose main character is Allard Benson, a student in a New Hampshire university; among Allard's future plans is the desire to write a novel. While there are many parallels between Aaron's past and Allard's past and present, there are also parallels between Allard's past and Thomas Williams' past. There is then the story of Aaron's family and the bedtime story that Aaron tells his children, Janie and Billy, who are characters in the bedtime story. There was depth to every character, there were tangents to the stories and it was all woven together miraculously well. I'll admit, as one GR reviewer commented, there wasn't much to like about any of the characters, but I like reading about characters I don't particularly care for. For me the only negative to this novel is that there was nothing unique or special about the core plot, but the rest was so good that I was spellbound. I will read more of Thomas Williams, just as I will read more of Robert Stone. I am happy that the two books shared the award in 1975, or I might never of found Thomas Williams.… (meer)