An American literary treasure, Charles Portis penned the Western classic True Grit. Set in the 1960s, Norwood is a picaresque romp taking audiences on a journey from Texas to New York and back again. An ex-marine, troubadour Norwood Pratt is on a mission to recover money he once loaned to a buddy in the service. Along the way, he gets into all manner of trouble involving stolen cars, beautiful women, and a chicken with a college education.
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"Another comic highlight. Portis is wonderful, inimitable. He can tell a story about nothing like no one else I know. George Saunders has inherited some of this, but Saunders can be a little more brittle and mannered, his characters and situations more surreal. Portis is interested in all the little details of ordinary, not-always-so-bright folks struggling with their drives and limitations, their idees fixes and confusion about the world. Like many of his other books (True Grit, Dog of the South), this is a story about a quest: Norwood's quest to find the man who owes him seventy dollars. That seventy dollars drives the story all the way to New York and back, through a cast of Portis's usual vivid, hilarious characters. This one is a little slighter than Dog of the South, and a little lighter. That's okay; it's a great novel with Portis's stamp all over it."
— Karen (4 out of 5 stars)
" I don't know if I would have liked this book so much if Chase didn't really like it. The more we talked about it the more I liked it. "
— Katywittmann, 2/20/2014" Some great chuckles...I enjoyed the language and wit.... "
— Beth, 2/15/2014" Another brilliant book by Charles Portis. Norwood is a lot of fun to read. Norwood is a funny, funny character. I enjoyed his adventures across America, and wished I had been along for the ride. The ending is pretty much perfect. "
— Syco, 2/11/2014" A short road trip story with some interesting characters and a generous sprinkling of dry humor. A little too slight to get a 4th star from me, but an excellent for a first novel. "
— Sarah, 2/10/2014" If you like the humor in Confederacy of Dunces, you'll like this. "
— Sara, 2/1/2014" Portis is so funny and strange. His style has a teasing smile under its every word. This book didn't break any new ground and it should have been about a hundred pages longer than it was (I rarely say that about any book) and I'm not nearly as besotted with it as Roy Blount Jr. was, but it cleared the way for his greater efforts (Dog of the South, Masters of Atlantis) and our world has been bettered because of it. "
— Brent, 1/28/2014" Not really about anything, but it was funny anyway. The same author as true grit. I will be reading the rest of his books. "
— Nate, 1/27/2014" The funniest book I've read in, oh, fifteen years. Also, the way Portis writes--so clean, direct, and perfectly chosen, well, everything--is kind of amazing. You should read this book right this second! "
— Jeff, 1/26/2014" Cute easy read! The dialect seems spot on! Wasn't a fan of the ending! "
— Kim, 1/20/2014" I dug the voice and humor, although the narrative was pretty light. "
— Christian, 1/19/2014" I think "True Grit" is the complete package when it comes to an entertaining read. I was curious to see more of Charles Portis' writing. This book rambles and at times I wished I could grab the main character and tattle his teeth! "
— Wendy, 1/17/2014" As the story ends, Bill Bird says "Now who in the world would want a Lord's Last Supper vinyl tablecloth?" Vernell said "Not me, I think they're tacky" Ha Ha Ha!! Such a funny story. Portis' characterizations of country folk rival some I've read from Barry Hannah. "
— Cary, 1/11/2014" Brilliance drives and hilarity rides shotgun in this compact gem of a book. "
— Robert, 1/7/2014" Portis's first novel, Norwood is a picaresque. It's amusing but low-key, colorful characters. "
— doug, 1/7/2014" Norwood is such an outstanding character. "
— Andrew, 1/2/2014" Did not capture my attention like True Grit and Gringos. I really felt no empathy for the protagonist. "
— Julie, 12/27/2013" This is one of my favorite books ever. It is a short book and maybe took me 5 hours to read. Wonderful characters, funny dialogue and a snapshot of the South in the early '60s. "
— Patti, 12/26/2013" This book was a bit goofy, but right in my wheelhouse. Funny,good prose and sort of wacky. An easy read. "
— Jpaflas, 12/22/2013" by our own Charles Portis. "
— Kathy, 12/17/2013" I rarely laugh out loud when reading a book, and this was the rare exception. Don't read this book in Church. "
— Brad, 12/16/2013" Wonderful!Darkly funny, gothic. I think Charles Portis is becoming one of my favorite authors. "
— Amy, 12/12/2013" Some great chuckles...I enjoyed the language and wit.... "
— Beth, 12/3/2013" This book was kind of like if you crossed the southern gentility of William Faulkner with the quirky characters of an Elmore Leonard novel. Great stuff ... I really enjoyed it. "
— Matt, 11/30/2013" Reading Norwood is comfy like sitting in a rocking chair. Maybe because it's light-hearted and wry. Maybe because I am from the South and love the simplicity (even in the pejorative sense) of the rural South. There's a lot of innocence in Norwood and this is a comfort. "
— Chris, 11/26/2013" I see that I'm now going to have to read everything Charles Portis ever wrote. "
— Lisa, 11/6/2013" This was pretty funny! "
— Christopher, 11/5/2013" Good fun from a master of the eccentric novel. Not as good as "True Grit" though. Seemed to be straing a bit for it's weirdness. Both films suffered under the burden of Glen Campbell in the cast. Joe Namath was in "Norwood"! "
— Chris, 11/3/2013" Good fun from a master of the eccentric novel. Not as good as "True Grit" though. Seemed to be straing a bit for it's weirdness. Both films suffered under the burden of Glen Campbell in the cast. Joe Namath was in "Norwood"! "
— Chris, 10/26/2013" The great country-western novel. The runner up might be William Price Fox's Ruby Red. "
— Kurt, 10/23/2013" It's official. My Elmore Leonard fixation will have to be put aside for a while as I work my way through my Charles Portis-itus. "
— Sherrie, 10/12/2013" A good Portis book; not his best. Short. "
— Ryan, 9/4/2013" If you like the humor in Confederacy of Dunces, you'll like this. "
— Sara, 8/10/2013" An American Masterpiece written by an American master of Arts and Letters... You get the idea. "
— McCutcheon, 7/29/2013" Vintage Arkansas deadpan. Veers into Werner Herzog/Harmony Korine territory when Norwood boards a Memphis-bound bus with a midget and a chicken. Not as great as Dog Of The South, but not much is. Portis is a genius. "
— Joe, 7/10/2013" One of my favorite Portis books. "
— Teri, 6/30/2013" I disliked just about every single thing in this book. The "look at me, aren't I clever" writing. The shallow characters with quirks in place of any kind of emotional depth or resonance. By the time I was expected to view a grope on a bus as love, I was actively enraged. "
— Megan, 5/6/2013" This is one of my favorite books. Portis's narrative style is uncomplicated, yet the emotions and situations he describes are complex and memorable. I can't come up with sufficient words for the way this book makes me feel without resorting to cliches. "
— Brigid, 5/1/2013" This book was kind of like if you crossed the southern gentility of William Faulkner with the quirky characters of an Elmore Leonard novel. Great stuff ... I really enjoyed it. "
— Matt, 4/20/2013" humorous story of a mid-twentieth century road trip from texas to nyc. portis is a master of characters. "
— Brett, 4/5/2013" by our own Charles Portis. "
— Kathy, 3/20/2013" A very enjoyable, funny, subtle book that's concise: you're never given more than you need. The dialogue, internal & external, is Peach Central. "
— Forest, 3/7/2013" Decent enough, but I kept hoping for something that was either a little more tense or weird like a Harry Crews or Day of the Locust. "
— Ben, 2/13/2013" This book is laugh-out-loud funny in places; Portis may be the best living writer at characterization. The plot is quirky, like the characters. All in all, a pleasure to read. "
— Robert, 12/28/2012" Not as good as True Grit, but better than Dog of the South. Basically like Dog of the South in that there isn't much plot, just some guy travelling around running into various characters. "
— Andy, 9/5/2012" People I know call this book "Snorewood" because they think it is hideously boring. It's actually not that bad and the main character goes on a road trip with a chicken, which is pretty awesome. "
— Wilson, 8/10/2012" Very funny stuff. The cadence of the characters' speech never failed to induce hearty chuckles. It's light reading, to be sure, but light reading of the highest quality. "
— William, 6/22/2012" Kept thinking of John Steinbeck (Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday, Tortilla Flat). Great voice and humor. "
— Ryan, 6/18/2012" Portis's first novel, Norwood is a picaresque. It's amusing but low-key, colorful characters. "
— doug, 9/2/2011" I rarely laugh out loud when reading a book, and this was the rare exception. Don't read this book in Church. "
— Brad, 6/23/2011" An excellent first novel. I'm not sure that it quite lives up to the hype. I personally liked Portis's Dog of the South better. "
— Mark, 6/6/2011" Charles Portis is the master of dialogue but, for me, dialogue alone couldn't carry this novel. Still I laughed often and enjoyed the immediacy and wry outlook of his story. "
— Janis, 6/4/2011" I disliked just about every single thing in this book. The "look at me, aren't I clever" writing. The shallow characters with quirks in place of any kind of emotional depth or resonance. By the time I was expected to view a grope on a bus as love, I was actively enraged. "
— Megan, 5/1/2011" Good fun from a master of the eccentric novel. Not as good as "True Grit" though. Both films suffered <br/>under the burden of Glen Campbell in the cast. Joe Namath was in "Norwood"! "
— Chris, 4/28/2011" Some lines and conversations were perfectly imperfect and in a sense naturally enjoyable. <br/>A review compared the author to Mark Twain, but I thought it was more reminiscent of J.D. Salinger. "
— Melissa, 3/14/2011" This was by the author of True Grit, and with the buzz around the movie I thought I'd give this a shot. It was good for a few chuckles but that was about it. I didn't find it hilarious and the paper thin plot left me disappointed. "
— Billcorcoran, 3/10/2011" This book clearly represents Portis' style and phrasing, and is a good representative of the late 60's / early 70's kind of "on the road", meandering-type story.<br/>Great characters, easy reading, understated story. Brilliant!<br/> "
— Leo, 3/8/2011" Extremely funny. Reminded me of Erskine Caldwell crossed with Damon Runyon. Caldwell gets a mention in the book and the delightful life awaiting Norwood Pratt and his soon-to-be bride may end up on some Tobacco Road. "
— Mike, 1/18/2011" I can't help myself. I need something funny to get me through the holidays. <br/> <br/>Not the best of Charles Portis' books, but his first. And you can see how it sets the tone for his budding genius. "
— Msmurphybylaw, 12/15/2010" "You must think I got on this bus looking for love." Not really, but love is found, on a bus, with a psychic chicken and a midget along for the ride. And what a ride. "
— Idabel, 12/12/2010Charles Portis (1933–2020) was an American author best known for his classic Western True Grit and the novel Norwood, both of which were made into major motion pictures. He served in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War and then attended the University of Arkansas. As a reporter, he wrote for the New York Herald Tribune and was also its London bureau chief. His first novel, Norwood, was published in 1966 and True Grit in 1968. His other novels include Masters of Atlantis, The Dog of the South, and Gringos.
David Aaron Baker is a voice and film actor. He is an award-winning narrator of dozens of audiobooks, including the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz, Paradise Dogs by Man Martin, and The Bartender’s Tale by Ivan Doig. He has earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration.