The Obstacle Course

by J.F. Freedman

In a dazzling shift of direction from his New York Times-bestselling first thriller, Against the Wind, J. F. Freedman presents The Obstacle Course, a coming-of-age story that recounts the adventures of a colorful, profane, street-smart, and appealing fifteen-year-old boy growing up in 1957 on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Roy Poole has to be smart because he is almost always on his own. His father is a drinker, womanizer, and wife-beater. His mother can't cope with her husband or her children; Roy copes by running with his own gang, whose escapades sometimes border on the criminal. And this young man is eminently available when the girls come after him, which is often. But there is another side to Roy. He builds model ships and regularly hitchhikes to Annapolis to run the Naval Academy's grueling obstacle course. For Roy Poole's one ambition in life, his consuming dream, is to become a midshipman. One day, like a gift from heaven, Roy meets a retired admiral who also builds model ships. The admiral is immediately attracted to the youngster, and he becomes almost a second father to the boy. Admiral Wells arranges for Roy to be admitted to a military prep school that sends most of its graduates to the Naval Academy. And then, suddenly, Roy's innocence brings about an explosion in this exotic world he has entered. Embittered and lost, Roy strikes out blindly for parts unknown. And on that adventure, particularly in an encounter with members of a black church, people that he, a Southerner in the fifties, has never known except as stereotypes, he begins the process of understanding that offers him a chance for his own redemption. This powerful and gritty coming-of-age novel will evoke memories of Holden Caulfield and Huck Finn. It also bears comparison to the novels of Pat Conroy. Best of all, The Obstacle Course confirms Freedman's talent for telling a compelling story in a full and rich original voice that marks him as a novelist with a limitless future.

Genres: Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 1994

About the author

J.F. Freedman is the New York Times bestselling author of Against the Wind, The Disappearance, House of Smoke, and In My Dark Dreams, among other titles. He is also an award-winning film and television director, writer, and producer. He lives in California.

Reviews

[Mary Sue Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a read! J.F. Freedman's books simply sweep the reader away.

[Marlyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of books that end without a resolution. The reader has invested their time, energy, emotions into the character(s) and deserve better. This is the second book I've read recently where the reader is left to decide the protagonist's fate. In both cases, the final actions and behaviour of the main character do not bode well for the future. It's a letdown and a gyp, in my humble opinion.

Having said that, the book is well-written and I enjoyed reading it immensely. The character and setting were original and didn't follow a well-worn path of having the character possess only good traits. His bad behaviour was somewhat understandable given the lamentable home situation. For that reason, it was even more disappointing when the book petered out just before the climax. Perhaps it is better that way than having to suffer the dismal fate of a failed life spread before our eyes.

The author could have gone two ways. He threw great good fortune in front of our hero, only to have it taken away again and again, sometimes by the character's own behaviour and 'bad choices' as another reader put it. But, sometimes just by circumstances. Was it in character that the young man decided to commit theft on the eve of redemption so that he could have sex, thereby betraying someone he seemed to care about and wilfully throwing his future at risk.

In the end, with every opportunity for redemption in front of him, with rescue at the 11th hour set to come in, he makes a decision that is fatally stupid and not necessarily in keeping with the character that has been developed.

Although thought-provoking, this lack of ending left me feeling dissatisfied and wary. I certainly will avoid this author in the future.

[Heidi Ivangs-Kariuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a well worn copy in a communal bookshelf. After the first ten pages I thought: this is not for me, a sophisticated old liberal: a white trash teenager with a knack for building ship models getting high on the dream of entering the naval Academy. I also wondered about the racial slurs in the language. Should a book like that be allowed? Then I saw the story was set in the fifties and grudgingly let it pass. Then the story started evolve into an extremely captivating coming of age narration including a road movie and a metarmophosis of Saulus into Paulus and I was hooked, even crying tears sometimes. As someone whose works is related to teenage boys helping them to find an aim in life and a career this book was extremely uplifting despite the open ending.

[Audrey Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely captured the teenager male of that era with very intriguing scenes.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I don't remember if I ever finished this book, I'm starting again at page one. I do remember that the book made an impression with me back in 1995, when I purchased it.
After reading this, I must say that it is a good read; a coming of age tale of a fifteen year old boy from January to June of 1957. His life, his wants, his needs and everything else. Once I've gotten past the first few chapters, I couldn't put down the book.
I especially liked the writing style and the narration by Roy Poole, the 15 year old. I think this would make a good movie, but being published some 16 years ago, it probably was passed by.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual fare, but I persevered and finished it. The language was raw, but it is about a teenage boy in the fifties. Sad story, really sad. I grew up in that era. Kids were treated like that for sure. Didn't openly offer much hope for this kid, rather it was inferred by the ending.
The hope is up to the reader to write.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a 15 yr. old boy in Maryland with lofty goals but poor judgement. You can't help but like the character but I found myself wanting to yell at him each time he made the wrong decision. Sort of the way I reacted in raising my son!!!

[Barbara B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the beginning or ending, but I liked a lot of the "in between"-----

[Brittney · Rating 1 out of 5]

it is