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Crossing America in the early twenties, midwesterners Georgia and Sam Sheridan unknowingly take the first steps on a quest for identity and a search for an ocean of oil that will make them rich.
301 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
20 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Clark Howard
110 books29 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Born in Ripley, Tennessee in 1932, Clark Howard is one of the most honored mystery writers in America and has long been a favorite of readers of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and numerous other publications.
A professional writer for over 40 years, he has written sixteen novels, six books of non-fiction, and has two published collections of short stories, in addition to more than 200 uncollected short stories. While versed in many genres, he is best known for his crime fiction and mystery stories which have won the prestigious Edgar Alan Poe Award, five Ellery Queen Readers Award, the Derringer Award, and have been nominated for the Anthony, Shamus and Spur Awards.
His stories have been adapted for film (The Big Town was based on his novel THE ARM) and television, which included the Alfred Hitchcock Presents series. His original screen play Last of the Good Guys was a featured Movie of the Week on CBS, and his non-fiction book SIX AGAINST THE ROCK was also a television movie.
His work has been translated into numerous languages and he has a large following of faithful readers in several countries, particularly in China and Japan where his writing appears regularly.
A ward of Cook County by age 12, Clark Howard grew up on the lower West Side of Chicago, living in a succession of foster homes, from which he habitually ran away. During this period, he was an amateur boxer for the Midwest Athletic Club on the West Side. But soon, in his mid teens, he became a confirmed juvenile delinquent and was eventually sent to a reformatory. Later he was allowed go live with his maternal grandmother in a small town near Memphis, Tennessee.
He discovered two new worlds in the South of the late 1940s — old time Negro jazz music and ‘heads up’ crap shooting, the latter of which later became the subject of THE ARM, his first novel.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 and served as a rocket launcher gunner in the Punchbowl in Korea. He was one of eight survivors in a platoon that survived the battle of the high ground north of the Punchbowl. He was discharged from the marines at age 20.
He entered journalism school at Northwestern University in Chicago under the GI Bill, but left after one semester when his writing was judged by his professor as being “undisciplined and of no commercial value.” Unknown to the professor, he had already sold two short stories to New York magazines.
Clark Howard now makes his home in Palm Springs, California. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Author’s Guild, and Writers Guild of America.
He was awarded a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in January 2011 in recognition for his contributions to literature, particularly the genre of American short stories.
Born in Ripley, Tennessee in 1932, Clark Howard is one of the most honored mystery writers in America and has long been a favorite of readers of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and numerous other publications.
A professional writer for over 40 years, he has written sixteen novels, six books of non-fiction, and has two published collections of short stories, in addition to more than 200 uncollected short stories. While versed in many genres, he is best known for his crime fiction and mystery stories which have won the prestigious Edgar Alan Poe Award, five Ellery Queen Readers Award, the Derringer Award, and have been nominated for the Anthony, Shamus and Spur Awards.
His stories have been adapted for film (The Big Town was based on his novel THE ARM) and television, which included the Alfred Hitchcock Presents series. His original screen play Last of the Good Guys was a featured Movie of the Week on CBS, and his non-fiction book SIX AGAINST THE ROCK was also a television movie.
His work has been translated into numerous languages and he has a large following of faithful readers in several countries, particularly in China and Japan where his writing appears regularly.
A ward of Cook County by age 12, Clark Howard grew up on the lower West Side of Chicago, living in a succession of foster homes, from which he habitually ran away. During this period, he was an amateur boxer for the Midwest Athletic Club on the West Side. But soon, in his mid teens, he became a confirmed juvenile delinquent and was eventually sent to a reformatory. Later he was allowed go live with his maternal grandmother in a small town near Memphis, Tennessee.
He discovered two new worlds in the South of the late 1940s — old time Negro jazz music and ‘heads up’ crap shooting, the latter of which later became the subject of THE ARM, his first novel.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 and served as a rocket launcher gunner in the Punchbowl in Korea. He was one of eight survivors in a platoon that survived the battle of the high ground north of the Punchbowl. He was discharged from the marines at age 20.
He entered journalism school at Northwestern University in Chicago under the GI Bill, but left after one semester when his writing was judged by his professor as being “undisciplined and of no commercial value.” Unknown to the professor, he had already sold two short stories to New York magazines.
Clark Howard now makes his home in Palm Springs, California. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Author’s Guild, and Writers Guild of America.
He was awarded a Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in January 2011 in recognition for his contributions to literature, particularly the genre of American short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
did-not-finish
August 20, 2012With only 150 pages to go, I am yielding. What should have been a good solid rags-to-riches story of greed and betrayal just fell apart with too much male-inspired fantasy sex (seriously, *good girls* in the 1920s have that kind of imagination?), and way too many "F" bombs and other four letter words. Readers looking for a bit a titillation with a mediocre story might enjoy it. Library only. I'm moving on to something else.
December 27, 2013
I loved this book! Good plot I couldn't put it down!
February 13, 2020
This is the first-ever novel I read way back in high school. I remember reading it every moment I could, bringing it on a boat trip. It was a thick novel and took me days to finish but it was worth it. May have been the reason why I started to get hooked into reading novels.
March 20, 2014
Too much intro story. The ending seemed rather thrown together in a last ditch effort. Too bad, it started out pretty good but was boring. About 3/4 thru till the end, found myself skimming a lot.
April 5, 2022
2022 Book Challenge #37 - Set in a Rural Area. 4.5 stars
I was very skeptical of this book when I first started reading it. A friend of mine recommended it, he doesn't read a lot - but said he loved this book and read it twice.
First, I can imagine one reason he liked it is all the sex in it. I want to say there's a lot of sex, but honestly, I've read worst. If you can get past that part and the 'gd's' I HATE that word - then there is a really good story here. You can especially appreciate it, if you've grown up in a small town.
It begins just after the first war, Sam Sheridan coming in off a boat, meets Georgia Sheridan in New York, thus begins their love story and the story of their struggles. At first, Sam and Georgia are forced to live with her brother and mother, but when Sam receives notice that he has inherited 100 acres in East Texas, their true story begins of how their love and determination to succeed, and find a place of acceptance and prosperity - What I especially loved about this story, is what a good person Sam was in his heart, he was not perfect by any means and had faults, but overall he really wanted to help people, because he knew what it was like to be unaccepted.
Also, once again, it proves to me that they truly were the greatest generation - the poverty and the doing without that they both went through and didn't really complain, just got to work! I so admire that.
I was very skeptical of this book when I first started reading it. A friend of mine recommended it, he doesn't read a lot - but said he loved this book and read it twice.
First, I can imagine one reason he liked it is all the sex in it. I want to say there's a lot of sex, but honestly, I've read worst. If you can get past that part and the 'gd's' I HATE that word - then there is a really good story here. You can especially appreciate it, if you've grown up in a small town.
It begins just after the first war, Sam Sheridan coming in off a boat, meets Georgia Sheridan in New York, thus begins their love story and the story of their struggles. At first, Sam and Georgia are forced to live with her brother and mother, but when Sam receives notice that he has inherited 100 acres in East Texas, their true story begins of how their love and determination to succeed, and find a place of acceptance and prosperity - What I especially loved about this story, is what a good person Sam was in his heart, he was not perfect by any means and had faults, but overall he really wanted to help people, because he knew what it was like to be unaccepted.
Also, once again, it proves to me that they truly were the greatest generation - the poverty and the doing without that they both went through and didn't really complain, just got to work! I so admire that.
April 17, 2021
You know it is a good book when you can't wait to get back to reading it.
April 20, 2021
Nothing but lessons in this book.
June 11, 2016
This is a story about Sam Sheridan, a man given an opportunity to prove his metal in the big untamed land of Texas. Reminiscent of Giant (Edna Ferber), Clark Howard's tale begins when WWI ends and proceeds to follow Sam Sheridan and his wife, Georgia, to post-WWII. The characters are archetypal Texans: ranchers, farmers, wildcatters, Mexicans and Indians. Amid all the drama of settling the land and disputes, Howard manages to include passages of passion. It was hard to put this one down.
September 26, 2015
I do like the book as I read it twice so far. It starts a bit broing though.
It is about a young man who takes a seemingly worthless heritage and surprisingly becomes one of the most important oil pioneers.
At the same time it tells the story of him and his wife who rise from poverty to wealth, but lose themselves, their love, and with that the luck of their life.
It is about a young man who takes a seemingly worthless heritage and surprisingly becomes one of the most important oil pioneers.
At the same time it tells the story of him and his wife who rise from poverty to wealth, but lose themselves, their love, and with that the luck of their life.
Read
January 4, 2014Fabulous book. It held me from beginning to end. Sorry it ended!
recommended for all who read. Hope to find more books by this author.
Please place me on mailing list of his other books.
recommended for all who read. Hope to find more books by this author.
Please place me on mailing list of his other books.
February 14, 2014
An entertaining family saga set in Texas over four decades with deep rivalries and drama. A little too much male testosterone and detailed sex scenes driving action and emotions, both male and female, for my tastes. But lots of interesting ties to the history of the times.
March 3, 2014
I really liked this story. The author kept trying to add sexy scenes in the book, but it just didn't do it for me. They just didn't fit. The story, though, was a good one and could have just stood without the sex scenes.
April 22, 2010
Absolutely love this book. I can read this over and over.
Read
August 14, 2013very good
April 20, 2014
This was a great story I enjoyed it so much.From poor to rich. for a love lost all. Good saga excellent writer.
March 17, 2016
Just finished and loved the book. A great saga written from a man,s perspective. I enjoyed the drama sex and personal growth of the characters Sam and georgia
October 8, 2012
A descent story that was a good lite read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews