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Into the Forest
Charlie Cumberland goes to college. The acrid stink of war still in his nostrils, Charlie is searching for a way back into life after having served death for so long. Through vulnerable Alice, untouchable Elaine, and especially through the ambitious, ruthless, charming and cruel Cal, Charlie Cumberland learns some brand new ways to kill - to kill a man's spirit without shedding his blood, to kill his ambition without taking his life.
319 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
19 people want to read
About the author
Roderick Thorp
28 books71 followersRoderick Mayne Thorp, Jr. was an American novelist specializing mainly in crime novels.
As a young college graduate, Thorp worked at a detective agency owned by his father. He would later teach literature and lecture on creative writing at schools and universities in New Jersey and California, and also wrote articles for newspapers and magazines.
Two of his best known novels were adapted into popular films: his 1966 novel The Detective was made into a 1968 film of the same name, starring Frank Sinatra as Detective Joe Leland, and his 1979 sequel to The Detective, Nothing Lasts Forever, was filmed in 1988 as Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis. Though Die Hard was relatively faithful to Nothing Lasts Forever, it was not made as a sequel to the film version of The Detective. Two other Thorp novels, Rainbow Drive and Devlin, were adapted into TV movies.
Thorp died of a heart attack in Oxnard, California.
As a young college graduate, Thorp worked at a detective agency owned by his father. He would later teach literature and lecture on creative writing at schools and universities in New Jersey and California, and also wrote articles for newspapers and magazines.
Two of his best known novels were adapted into popular films: his 1966 novel The Detective was made into a 1968 film of the same name, starring Frank Sinatra as Detective Joe Leland, and his 1979 sequel to The Detective, Nothing Lasts Forever, was filmed in 1988 as Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis. Though Die Hard was relatively faithful to Nothing Lasts Forever, it was not made as a sequel to the film version of The Detective. Two other Thorp novels, Rainbow Drive and Devlin, were adapted into TV movies.
Thorp died of a heart attack in Oxnard, California.
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July 17, 2024Roderick Thorp's first novel tells tue story of Charlie, Cal, Alice and Elaine. The four characters are good examples of young people of that late fifties New England. Cornell figures greatly and the fraternity life figures highly
Sex at that time was still under wraps. It was a big deal to have sex. Elaine had sex. Her heavy breasts and het Jewishness were lauded. She worked hard and had mother conflicts. Cal became Chancellor of his fraternity which was his goal. He led the guys with pranks and explosives on the ajacent frat house. Alice is described as pretty nice and Christian without the requisite heft of Elaine. She is used by Charlie. And dumped twice by him. At that time if a girl was known to have had sex with someone she was labeled a slut and was then hit on by all the guys. Sex had to be a secret.
Lakes and forests of the New York Finger Lakes are splendidly described.
The jewishness of Cornell is described.
Career choices are described. Teaching as a career id described. The book is very descripfive more so than any recently written books. It is heavy handed in the elaborate descriptions of miles of countryside in upstate New York. Upstate New York is the main character as is New Yoyk City. The city decriptions are also quite heavy.
Sex at that time was still under wraps. It was a big deal to have sex. Elaine had sex. Her heavy breasts and het Jewishness were lauded. She worked hard and had mother conflicts. Cal became Chancellor of his fraternity which was his goal. He led the guys with pranks and explosives on the ajacent frat house. Alice is described as pretty nice and Christian without the requisite heft of Elaine. She is used by Charlie. And dumped twice by him. At that time if a girl was known to have had sex with someone she was labeled a slut and was then hit on by all the guys. Sex had to be a secret.
Lakes and forests of the New York Finger Lakes are splendidly described.
The jewishness of Cornell is described.
Career choices are described. Teaching as a career id described. The book is very descripfive more so than any recently written books. It is heavy handed in the elaborate descriptions of miles of countryside in upstate New York. Upstate New York is the main character as is New Yoyk City. The city decriptions are also quite heavy.
Displaying 1 of 1 review