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Off for the Sweet Hereafter
The author returns to the mythic environs of Neely, North Carolina, to tell the modern Bonnie and Clyde story of Raeford Benton Lynch and Jane Elizabeth Firesheets
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
84 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
T.R. Pearson
34 books273 followersThomas Reid Pearson is an American novelist born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is the author of seventeen novels and four works of non-fiction under his own name, including A Short History of a Small Place, Cry Me A River, Jerusalem Gap, and Seaworthy, and has written three additional novels -- Ranchero, Beluga, and Nowhere Nice -- under the pseudonym Rick Gavin. Pearson has also ghostwritten several other books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has written or co-written various feature film and TV scripts.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 31, 2011
T.R. Pearson is one of my favorite authors. After re-reading "A Short History of A Small Place," I picked this up to see just what else he's been up to. About a third of the way in, I nearly gave up. But I kept going and I am glad I did, as that is when it all turned into the most hilarious Bonnie and Clyde story ever, with sex and filthy language. I loved it. It would definitely have been four stars if not for the slow-ish start and some sections where I was confused by the grave-digging crew.
If someone is digging graves, I wondered, are they preparing to put in a new highway or to build a subdivision?? I was not clear, maybe I skimmed where I should not have.
But trust me, read on and the last third of the book is freaking hilarious. Though I must say, the phrases "milky white parts and plum-colored parts" started to wear on me. Really, T.R., we get it.
Just to whet your whistle, here is a brief taste of our very own Bonnie and Clyde toward the tail-end of their run:
(Page 273)"...So the crowd, which had started out as two white men, a negro, and a dog, expanded in size and complexity and came to encompass all manner of people who were as a group anxious to see justice done and a little bloodthirsty too. Naturally Sheriff Burton recognized the bloodthirstiness right off as he was trained to and so he called on the radio for his auxiliary deputies which was the loan officer at the First Union, Mr. Fortain, along with Mr. Demitt the pharmacist, but he had not needed a radio really since Mr. Fontain and Mr. Demitt were as bloodthirsty as the next fellow and came out from the crowd so as to control it and did marshal it as best they could, and they did control it and did marshal it on their own for a while but got assisted eventually by Miss Bambi Kinch who stepped out from the Action News 5 van and marshaled and controlled the crowd herself without even attempting to."
You might notice how many words are in that second sentence. Normally, this would bother me, but here it is dialect and breathless and rushed and that is exactly as it should be.
If someone is digging graves, I wondered, are they preparing to put in a new highway or to build a subdivision?? I was not clear, maybe I skimmed where I should not have.
But trust me, read on and the last third of the book is freaking hilarious. Though I must say, the phrases "milky white parts and plum-colored parts" started to wear on me. Really, T.R., we get it.
Just to whet your whistle, here is a brief taste of our very own Bonnie and Clyde toward the tail-end of their run:
(Page 273)"...So the crowd, which had started out as two white men, a negro, and a dog, expanded in size and complexity and came to encompass all manner of people who were as a group anxious to see justice done and a little bloodthirsty too. Naturally Sheriff Burton recognized the bloodthirstiness right off as he was trained to and so he called on the radio for his auxiliary deputies which was the loan officer at the First Union, Mr. Fortain, along with Mr. Demitt the pharmacist, but he had not needed a radio really since Mr. Fontain and Mr. Demitt were as bloodthirsty as the next fellow and came out from the crowd so as to control it and did marshal it as best they could, and they did control it and did marshal it on their own for a while but got assisted eventually by Miss Bambi Kinch who stepped out from the Action News 5 van and marshaled and controlled the crowd herself without even attempting to."
You might notice how many words are in that second sentence. Normally, this would bother me, but here it is dialect and breathless and rushed and that is exactly as it should be.
June 19, 2012
Screamingly funny in spots, but until you get used to Pearson's rendition of Southern dialect and his page-long sentences, it's like reading in a foreign language. It's well worth the effort, though.
December 19, 2020
Long winded overload of information
This book reminded me of a small town in the middle of nowhere ,and every person living there knows one another's business.Took forever to get to the story for all the character introductions and history. Once arrived the story was interesting graphic
and funny in places. Must give T.R. Pearson credit as this wouldn't have been an easy book to write with all the repetition and details.
This book reminded me of a small town in the middle of nowhere ,and every person living there knows one another's business.Took forever to get to the story for all the character introductions and history. Once arrived the story was interesting graphic
and funny in places. Must give T.R. Pearson credit as this wouldn't have been an easy book to write with all the repetition and details.
April 3, 2022
Enjoyable read when I could sit down and read large portions of it, but the slow writing style doesn't lend itself to popping in for a couple pages at a time. Has some laugh out loud moments when you can get into the story, but it takes some time to do that and I wasn't able to do that enough while reading this book.
December 21, 2018
just a delightful read - faulkner meets garison keiler, and garison wins! great stories and characters in a southern gothic style. just pure fun
September 12, 2022
è un mix di personaggi, non si capisce nulla se non un po’ alla fine
Read
October 2, 2025DNF for now
June 15, 2011
This was my third, possibly fourth, time through this wonder of a book, which is one of my all-time favorites. When I loaded my books into Goodreads several years ago, I rated 'Off for the Sweet Hereafter” five stars: I don't see any reason to change that now.
It's the story of a crime wave ---- but you might as well say that “Moby Dick” is the story of a whale. The book opens with the words---
“That was the summer we lost the bald Jeeter...”
They are followed by many other words before the first full stop is reached.
This book is about the writing, which is exuberant and rich, and sounds (to my Yankee ear) pitch perfect. This book is about the characters --- the Jeeter sisters, the Lynches, the widow ladies of Neely, a motley work crew hired to relocate the dead, and many other characters too numerous to mention but too vivid to forget. The book is laugh-out-loud funny (a rare thing in a book), perceptive, and humane. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It will not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me is the perfect brew.
It's the story of a crime wave ---- but you might as well say that “Moby Dick” is the story of a whale. The book opens with the words---
“That was the summer we lost the bald Jeeter...”
They are followed by many other words before the first full stop is reached.
This book is about the writing, which is exuberant and rich, and sounds (to my Yankee ear) pitch perfect. This book is about the characters --- the Jeeter sisters, the Lynches, the widow ladies of Neely, a motley work crew hired to relocate the dead, and many other characters too numerous to mention but too vivid to forget. The book is laugh-out-loud funny (a rare thing in a book), perceptive, and humane. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It will not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me is the perfect brew.
March 19, 2011
"Off for the Sweet Hereafter" is darker and cruder than "A Short History of a Small Place" was. "Short History" was narrated in the first person by Louis Benfield, who was a young boy, so it came across as innocent and good-natured. "Sweet Hereafter" on the other hand, was a more conventional third person account that involved quite a bit of sex, violence, and unlikeable characters. It also included the rambling conversational style that Mr. Pearson used so effectively in "Short History". But in this book, he seemed to stretch it a little too far, so that it got tiresome occasionally.
I'm still planning to read the next book in what I've seen described as the Neely trilogy, which is "The Last of How It Was". I believe that Louis Benfield is back in that one, which will be a relief.
I'm still planning to read the next book in what I've seen described as the Neely trilogy, which is "The Last of How It Was". I believe that Louis Benfield is back in that one, which will be a relief.
October 9, 2015
Off for the Sweet Hereafter by T. R. Pearson (Henry Holt & Co. 1986) (Fiction – General). T.R. Pearson's second novel is a sequel to his first, A Short History of a Small Place, which was set in the fictional Neely, North Carolina. This volume focuses on the daring exploits of two hard-luck lovers who cut a memorable path and leave a trail of mayhem in their wake. My rating: 7/10, finished 1987.
May 16, 2011
Absolutely hilarious. Pearson's long, rambling sentences capture the aural rhythms of Southern speech (I would love to hear an audiobook of this novel). Recommended vacation reading (if you think you'd enjoy a mashup between William Faulker and Elmore Leonard on your next vacation)... I don't recommend reading it in the ten and fifteen minutes sessions I ended up reading it in.
July 18, 2013
Loved this book (although more for the characters and description than the plot), but it made me realize that I will never be a true Southerner. I think Pearson should be required reading for misplaced Yankees.
September 5, 2015
I love T. R Pearson's writing style. I think he's fantastic, but this wasn't my favorite book of his.
His style isn't for everyone, but I was sorry to see the book end. It's such a pleasure to be immersed in his language and the worlds he creates.
His style isn't for everyone, but I was sorry to see the book end. It's such a pleasure to be immersed in his language and the worlds he creates.
June 13, 2007
Cathy says, "could easily have been a nice short story."
March 9, 2008
These first three...I just love 'em.
September 5, 2008
Ditto my comments on other T.R.Pearson reads.
April 2, 2009
This was great -not for the faint of heart, but a good read. Pearson has a interesting writing style that I enjoyed after I got used to it. Looking forward to reading more by him.
August 3, 2013
My favorite of Pearson's, maybe because it was the first of his that I read. I became -and remain- hooked.
May 19, 2019
(no. 48 of 2017)
(re-read; same 3-star rating)
(no 16 of 2019)
no. 2 in TRP's Neely series
1. Short History of a Small Place
2. Off for the Sweet Hereafter
3. The Last of How It Was
(re-read; same 3-star rating)
(no 16 of 2019)
no. 2 in TRP's Neely series
1. Short History of a Small Place
2. Off for the Sweet Hereafter
3. The Last of How It Was
April 26, 2016
Great novel.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews