Goliath

by Susan Woodring

When Percy Harding, Goliath’s most important citizen, is discovered dead by the railroad tracks outside town one perfect autumn afternoon, no one can quite believe it’s really happened. Percy, the president of the town’s world-renowned furniture company, had seemed invincible. Only Rosamond Rogers, Percy’s secretary, may have had a glimpse of how and why this great man has fallen, and that glimpse tugs at her, urges her to find out more.  Percy isn’t the first person to leave everybody seems to, from her husband, Hatley, who walked out on her years ago; to her complicated daughter Agnes, whose girlhood bedroom was papered with maps of the places she wanted to escape to. The town itself is Rosamond’s anchor, but it is beginning to quiver with the possibility of change. The high school girls are writing suicide poetry. The town’s young, lumbering sidewalk preacher is courting Rosamond’s daughter. A troubled teenaged boy plans to burn Main Street to the ground. And the furniture factory itself—the very soul of Goliath—threatens to close.  In the wake of the town’s undoing, Rosamond seeks to reunite the grief-shaken community. Goliath , a story of loss and love, of forgiveness and letting go, is a lyrical swoon of a novel by an exceptionally talented newcomer.  

Genres: Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Susan Woodring is the author of two novels, Goliath (St. Martin’s Press, 2012) and The Traveling Disease (Main Street Rag, 2007) and a short story collection, Springtime on Mars (Press 53, 2008). Her short fiction has appeared in Isotope, Passages North, turnrow, and Surreal South, among other anthologies and literary magazines. Her work has twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and her short fiction was shortlisted for Best American Non-Required Reading 2008 and Best American Short Stories 2010. Susan currently lives in western North Carolina with her children and her husband.

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't received my copy yet, just received notice I had won. 3/5/12
Received yesterday and hope to start soon. I have 10 more plus my current read in front. 3/16/12
Started 4/21/12

Goliath is a small town based on the Harding Furniture Factory. It is full of a fun mix of characters and follows them through the days starting with the factory owners tragic suicide. What will become of the town and its residents?

This book had wonderful characters and a great story line, but I kept thinking okay, is this going anywhere? I adore Rosamond, but dispise her at the same time. Is that even possible? I tend to think the emphasis we put on therapy after tragedy is sometimes way too much. I don't understand having forced sessions for school children if a child passes away that they didn't know, just happened to go to the same school, but anyways, I found it odd that there was no outreach to the child that found Mr Harding. Also, the suicide club would have caused all sorts of red flags to go up and I think all the kids would be watched like hawks. I found it a bit unrealistic that the kids could have gotten away with what they had if this had been an actual event.

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't mind this book, but it tries to be existential in this wordy way you forget what this book is about. In fact, you're never really quite sure what the point is because it says it's about the death of this guy, but really, that's just the catalyst to get a sad, morose, inside-look at these people's lives. I got over half-way through then gave up.

[Aiden · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was absolutely horrible! It was so slow, there was nothing in it! It was basically just a collection of paper! I don't know how people actually buy this monstrosity with the intent to finish it!

Jk

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, not my cup of tea. Found it very slow and not that engaging. But that's just me and I'm sure that it's a great book for the right audience.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different, but I liked it

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed thoughts about this book, it was a slow, calm read but yet it gave a lot of details about the town of Goliath and how one event can trigger or seem to set off other events. It all started with Vincent, a normal teenager who stumbles across the owner of the town’s furniture manufacturing plant who had been hit by a train. Rumors of why would a man of this prestige get hit by a train run through the town and the widow’s actions are something to read about. This event triggers a multitude of other events in the small town. Some individuals reflect on past event and wonder if this incident was a trigger from them. I believe it’s a case of people thinking/rehashing too much and they just need to move on. Anyways, in Goliath, the town folk are people you can relate to and some of them are trying to move on but the past just keeps bringing itself back up. I especially liked Rosamond. She tried to act like she didn’t care what’s going on but she had her nose right in everything and the way the community gathered around her like she was Dear Abby, just made me laugh. If you’re looking for a nice, slow read about a town that’s about to get shaken up…… take a walk into Goliath.

I received a copy of this book from First Reads, I am giving an honest opinion of the book.

[Matilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG, we were so excited to receive this book in the mail! We haven't officially started up our 'In My Mailbox' feature, but we're working on it ... we promise. Anyways, this was our first ever win from Goodreads, a contest that was apparently sponsored by St. Martin's Press. So, we'd just like to say, thank you!

Oh, right. "Goliath." This was kind of a first for us. From Susan Woodring, and a little out of our young adult realm. Not that this book isn't ... wasn't an amazing book for teens to read, because well, we loved it. (Though, we only got one copy so we passed it back, and forth in order to be able to read to ourselves, and each other.)

In the small town of Goliath, one of the town's most respected men, commits suicide. This comes as big shock, to the many citizens of Goliath. The novel seems to focus mainly on his secretary, Rosamond, and the people that entwine with her life, and her road to closure. Her past, and present all come into play during this novel. As her feelings for Percy, and the people around her become more apparent.

For the full review, click the link below:

http://characterized.blogspot.com/201...

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book as the blurb sounded so good but I finished the book feeling very confused and not really understanding what the bigger picture was supposed to be.

Goliath is about a small town that experiences a suicide of one of their wealthiest, most well known citizens. We hear most of the story through the voice of Ruth, her daughter Agnes, and Vincent (the boy who finds the body). The rest we get in snippets from the people in their lives. It flopped around so much that I didn't feel like I truly got a good picture of the heartache that any one person felt. I sometimes felt that there wasn't enough dialogue to get through the more poignant parts of the story and lighten it up a bit.

When I finished the book, I just felt depressed and confused. I don't know that I will be reading any more books by this author.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. Like much of Woodring's previous work, it balances restraint with lyricism. Through the depiction of a struggling small town and a handful of closely observed, if flawed, characters, Woodring gives us an entire world. She captures the tempo and concerns of a one-industry town in North Carolina, but her characters confront the largest of issues -- suicide, unemployment, faith, and family. The omniscient point of view is especially effective as it shows both the reaction of the whole community and the particular experiences of the protagonist, Rosamond, and several other residents in the aftermath of Percy Harding's death. Although the town will not recover, most of the characters we have come to care about find some measure of redemption, and that may be the most we can hope for. Goliath held me captive as I read it.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might have been better if its author had known more about her subject. It seemed to be a combination of "restless woman finds true love, happiness, and escape" which she covers pretty well, and "look at Winesburg Ohio" moved to a North Carolina mountain factory town and view the paucity of mill town existence one more time. Somehow, in a thousand little ways she fails to build her landscape or even most of her characters as credible. I wanted this to be a good book about an underrecognized Southern subject, but it was instead a carelss swipe at many undeveloped possibilities. I kept hoping it would get better, but it didn't. Better to go back to Pam Duncan to see the real souls of milltown people.

[Betty O'Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book when Susan Woodring came to Poetry Hickory and read. Western North Carolina has such an interesting history and living in Hickory, I have seen and heard what happened to local towns when unfortunately, major furniture manufacturing was moved to Asia.

Susan's characters are rich and you can propel yourself into the story. I often felt I was standing in an office watching a main character named Rosamond. You also will be acquainted to small town Southern life.

The book demonstrates community,grief, forgiveness, moving on and love.

I like authors who not only write well, but are good people. Susan cares about her community and home schools her children which demonstrates her commitment to what she does.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this novel through a goodreads' FirstReads giveaway.

Goliath tells the story of a small southern town, named of all things...Goliath. Goliath is a town anchored by the Harding Furniture Factory. The factory is where most of the town's residents work and the story starts as the factory's owner is found dead by the train tracks.

I found the book to be a slow read and it didn't capture my attention quite the way I had hoped. A blurb on the back compared the novel to Empire Falls by Richard Russo, which I loved...so I was hoping that I would be similarly charmed by this novel.

[Lisa Delaine Youngblood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This audiobook details the lives of many citizens of Goliath, a small town kept alive by a furniture factory. When the town's factory owner perishes from an apparent suicide, the town and the people in it begin to change.

Though the story itself is an excellent study of small-town America and the varying characters, festivals, and businesses that comprise that town, the story was far too long. Though the slow pacing was appropriate to the depiction of the town and lifestyles, much of the smae "material" was covered over and over again.

I listened to the Play-a-way audio version of this title. Even speeded up as far as it would go, even the audiopresentation was extremely slow.

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Woodring's Goliath is a remarkable book, filled with fully realized characters, perfect dialogue, and a plot that is always entertaining and never quite predictable. Add to that the omniscient point of view--something you don't see in many contemporary novels--and you've got a truly enjoyable read. The discovery of a body in the book's opening pages is the story's catalyst, but this is no ordinary mystery. Instead, it's something of a love story--or several love stories--not just about romance, but about people's capacity to love.

[Jerry Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing Susan Woodring speak to the Charlotte Writers’ Club last month, I picked up her latest novel, Goliath, and found myself entranced with her story of a small North Carolina factory town going through numerous changes. The pacing of the novel helps the reader to truly understand the small town feeling of being in the middle of a community yet at the same time sometimes very much alone. Imagery is very important to this story as well, and Woodring weaves it into the plot to create a rich tale that I believe most readers would appreciate. I highly recommend picking up this novel!

[Laurel Dowswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Woodring loves people. She knows them. When you read Goliath, she immerses you into their lives, their loves, their journeys. Whether you are with Rosamond, the small town's unique truthteller/social gypsy/ultimate romantic, a heartbroken drifter, or a teenage boy who just wants to undo what can't be undone, you feel their yearnings, doubts, and dreams. The diverse cast of characters in this novel of a small town faced with a big problem wrap themselves around you and won't let go. This will be a book I will reread for years. Buy it now.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won an ARC of this book through first reads.

I enjoyed this book. It was a little slow moving, but the descriptions of the town and the people living there were so strong and vivid. That was the part I liked the most. I felt like I really got to know every single character in the book and could feel what they were feeling.

It was interesting as well, to see how the death of Percy Harding, the first thing that happens, could effect an entire town and the events that stem from it.

[Shawn Steketee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway. This is a story about a small factory town where everyone knows everyone else. The pace is gentle and the author takes the time to really explore all of the characters. The real story is about the relationships, between mother and daughter, neighbors, school friends, husbands and wives and how those relationships change under stress. We find that knowing someone is not the same as understanding them.

[Angyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a finished copy of this book through Goodreads, was supposed to receive an ARC copy,but they had my zip code wrong, so they sent me a finished book.
I like this book,it started out slow but after I read awhile I like it. It had alot of descriptions of the town, and I loved Vincent and how the other people in the book were as if I knew them myself.

[Nancy Posey · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to live in Western North Carolina--the so-called furniture capital of the world-- to be drawn into this story of a small town in the aftermath of the death--hit by a train--of Percy Harding, the owner of Harding Furniture, the town's major employer. Woodring creates a townful of characters who are engaging, entertaining, and believable. Beautifully written.

[Lois25 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Small town, USA. Small town in NC sees the furniture company that is so important to the survival of the town close. Why it closed, individual characters that were affected, and the slow demise of a once vibrant town. I could relate to this book as I grew up in a small, one industry town in the 50‘s.

[Ann Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is well-written and the characters are intriguing, but the plot is slow-moving (like the pace of life in the mythical small-town Goliath, I suppose). I was hoping for a bit more sizzle and spark.

[Christy Inge · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish, which is very out of character for me. Even if I don't like a book that much, I always finish it. However, I decided I had too many other books I wanted to dive into. Perhaps another time, I'll pick it up and feel differently.

[Gwen Veazey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rich novel about 1980’s characters in a tiny town named Goliath in western NC. I wanted to read it because this St. Martin’s Griffin published author lives in my county. She’s an excellent writer.

[Erica Mears · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the strangest books I have ever read. I kept expecting it to make sense but it really didn't. Descriptive characters with a good potential story but just dragged on. I made it a little over half way and just couldn't take it any more.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really grab me but I kept reading. I kept expecting the story to pick up or to reveal a twist or anything to get away from their drab little lives. It has great potential if the author re-wrote it wearing running shoes.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and its delightfully quirky characters. The small town omniscient voice was masterfully done. Such a pleasure to read!

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked this book a lot, but I knew I would from the description.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get into this book...it jumped around too much and the story line was very boring...I kept reading thinking it would get better but it never did...didn't even make it to the end...

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this book at all, forced myself to just finish it and move on to a good book!