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The Vanishing Moon
A chorus of candid and poignant voices narrates this novel about a working-class American family who struggles to succeed through five turbulent decades, from the Depression to the Vietnam War. First, Stephen Tollman looks back on his early adventures with his older brother, Philip, as the boys try to shield their younger siblings from the vulnerability of financial ruin. Years later, the vibrant and ambitious Katherine Lennox mesmerizes Stephen and Philip as they both tragically fall in love with her. Then, Philip's son James comes of age in the 1960s, striving to understand his father's deep anger amid a summer of assassinations and civil unrest.
Together, these voices create an insightful, beautiful, and deeply psychological story about the American working class, about the strength and strain of family bonds, and finally, about hardships that haunt the human psyche over a lifetime.
Together, these voices create an insightful, beautiful, and deeply psychological story about the American working class, about the strength and strain of family bonds, and finally, about hardships that haunt the human psyche over a lifetime.
- GenresFiction
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
About the author
Joseph Coulson
13 books1 followerJoseph Coulson (born 1957) is a novelist, poet, and playwright. His writing is notable for its lyricism and its blending of American history and social criticism. Also an educator, Coulson was named president of the Great Books Foundation in 2014.
Coulson’s first novel, The Vanishing Moon (Archipelago Books, 2004), was a Barnes & Noble Great New Writers selection, and it won the Book of the Year Award, Gold Medal in Literary Fiction, from ForeWord. Chronicling the lives of working-class people, The Vanishing Moon was a critical success, and Coulson’s prose, themes, and historical range drew comparisons with John Steinbeck, William Maxwell, and Russell Banks. His second novel, Of Song and Water (2007) was a finalist for the Great Lakes Book Award. Both novels earned wide distribution in French and German translations, and The Vanishing Moon was later published as a Harvest Book, the perennial literary series from Harcourt.
Coulson has also published three books of poetry, The Letting Go (1984), A Measured Silence (1986), and Graph (1990). His first play, A Saloon at the Edge of the World (1996), a noir drama showcased by Theater Artists of Marin, enjoyed both popular and critical acclaim in the San Francisco Bay area. Coulson is a recipient of the Tompkins Award in Poetry and the David Gray Writing Fellowship, and his essays have appeared in journals and anthologies including The Barnabe Mountain Review, Walt Whitman of Mickle Street, The Critical Survey of Poetry, and The Greenfield Review.
Coulson’s first novel, The Vanishing Moon (Archipelago Books, 2004), was a Barnes & Noble Great New Writers selection, and it won the Book of the Year Award, Gold Medal in Literary Fiction, from ForeWord. Chronicling the lives of working-class people, The Vanishing Moon was a critical success, and Coulson’s prose, themes, and historical range drew comparisons with John Steinbeck, William Maxwell, and Russell Banks. His second novel, Of Song and Water (2007) was a finalist for the Great Lakes Book Award. Both novels earned wide distribution in French and German translations, and The Vanishing Moon was later published as a Harvest Book, the perennial literary series from Harcourt.
Coulson has also published three books of poetry, The Letting Go (1984), A Measured Silence (1986), and Graph (1990). His first play, A Saloon at the Edge of the World (1996), a noir drama showcased by Theater Artists of Marin, enjoyed both popular and critical acclaim in the San Francisco Bay area. Coulson is a recipient of the Tompkins Award in Poetry and the David Gray Writing Fellowship, and his essays have appeared in journals and anthologies including The Barnabe Mountain Review, Walt Whitman of Mickle Street, The Critical Survey of Poetry, and The Greenfield Review.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 27, 2014
Sometimes I find a story that appeals to me but few others have issued comments about it. Such was Joseph Coulson's tale about the Tollman family. Living in Cleveland when the books opens, the reader sees them struggle during the Depression when they are so poor that one year is spent in a tent in the country. It was a difficult period as they experienced winter's cold and spring's merciless and drenching rains. However, the year was memorable for the two oldest boys who roamed and explored the area as boys will.
Told in three parts, we follow the family through their moves, the Depression, World War II, into the turbulent 1960s with the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. In the beginning, we meet the family members: Phil, the oldest, is quick to anger; Stephen, thinks things through; charming Margie; and Myron, whose stuttering haunts his childhood and adolescent years. As one might expect, early in the novel, the beleaguered parents give up the struggle but the rest endure as best they can.
The first section is told by Stephen who takes us through the conflicts, struggles and competition of two oldest sons. Both even fall in love with the same woman, Katherine Lennox, a talented pianist, whose existence focuses on music and her activist roles. Katherine narrates the second part. Philip's son, James, spells out the final section. As he becomes a man of his own, he struggles to understand his father and his anger along with the meaning of the civil rights movement and assassinations that occur during the period.
While this is the author's first novel, his background as a poet, playwright, and editor is evident. Yes, the book is sad in so many ways but the reader begins to understand how one family coped with and lived through the chaos that poverty and the events of their lifetime provide. I found this a moving and thought-provoking read.
Told in three parts, we follow the family through their moves, the Depression, World War II, into the turbulent 1960s with the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. In the beginning, we meet the family members: Phil, the oldest, is quick to anger; Stephen, thinks things through; charming Margie; and Myron, whose stuttering haunts his childhood and adolescent years. As one might expect, early in the novel, the beleaguered parents give up the struggle but the rest endure as best they can.
The first section is told by Stephen who takes us through the conflicts, struggles and competition of two oldest sons. Both even fall in love with the same woman, Katherine Lennox, a talented pianist, whose existence focuses on music and her activist roles. Katherine narrates the second part. Philip's son, James, spells out the final section. As he becomes a man of his own, he struggles to understand his father and his anger along with the meaning of the civil rights movement and assassinations that occur during the period.
While this is the author's first novel, his background as a poet, playwright, and editor is evident. Yes, the book is sad in so many ways but the reader begins to understand how one family coped with and lived through the chaos that poverty and the events of their lifetime provide. I found this a moving and thought-provoking read.
June 30, 2008
I found this book to be really good...but really depressing.
May 21, 2024
I wasn’t sure about this book when I first started reading it, but then I couldn’t put it down. It really had a compelling story line and some thoughtful quotes. But I read it so fast that as I’m reviewing it, months later, I know I enjoyed it but I can’t for the life of me remember what it’s about. So that must say something.
November 25, 2020
Beautifully written. Terribly depressing.
December 27, 2024
5 generations of American family from Depression to Vietnam war. Left the book in Petra, Jordan.
August 21, 2023
Update 8•21•23
I'm giving this a one.
I was going to give it a one, but I didn't absolutely hate it. However, what was the point of this book?
I'm giving this a one.
I was going to give it a one, but I didn't absolutely hate it. However, what was the point of this book?
December 2, 2012
I seem to be in the middle of an epidemic of finding books I can't stand and struggle to finish. I've never liked books without proper punctuation. I seem to be one of the few who disliked this book. Maybe because it comes on the heels of my having read A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea and other "difficult childhood" books, but I couldn't wait to get done with it.
April 2, 2007
One of the most beautiful works of prose I have ever read. Coulson's background as a poet is apparent in the lyrical sentences of his first novel. Told through three points of view, each narrator retains a distinct, sincere voice.
October 21, 2009
Lucidly and impeccably rendered ... a poignant and beautifully layered story ... deft with marveling resonance, this debut novel abounds with life and wonder.
June 15, 2010
Multi-generational story of a family. Written with delicacy and respect, the love, motivations and pain of these brothers and their progeny will linger in your mind and heart.
December 23, 2010
too dark
July 20, 2013
Some of the characters in this story were just very disappointing. Also, I kept waiting for at least one character to be happy. Just very sad & depressing.
January 6, 2010
Some of the writing in this book was absolutely mesmerizing.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews