Krátká projížďka v nebeském kočáře

by William Saroyan

In this zestful, happy, and wonderfully rambling book, one of America's favorite authors takes the reader with him on a leisurely drive across the U.S.A.

It all started in the summer of 1963 when Saroyan impulsively bought a 1941 Lincoln so that he might be chauffeur to the "few remaining dignitaries in my family." He and his cousin John take a leisurely pilgrimage across the North Central states while the reader just sits back and enjoys the scenic countryside and the good conversation. In addition to looking for authentic American hoboes and commenting on the vista, they find time to chatter on every imaginable subject, from Hemingway and American place names to the first Armenian-American President, Fellini's flaws, and a writer's quest for lasting truths.

Genres: Travel, Fiction

119 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1966

About the author

William Saroyan was an Armenian-American writer, renowned for his novels, plays, and short stories. He gained widespread recognition for his unique literary style, often characterized by a deep appreciation for everyday life and human resilience. His works frequently explored themes of Armenian-American immigrant experiences, particularly in his native California, and were infused with optimism, humor, and sentimentality.
Saroyan's breakthrough came with The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934), a short story that established him as a major literary voice during the Great Depression. He went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940 for The Time of Your Life, though he declined the award, and in 1943, he won an Academy Award for Best Story for The Human Comedy. His novel My Name Is Aram (1940), based on his childhood, became an international bestseller.
Though celebrated for his literary achievements, Saroyan had a tumultuous career, often struggling with financial instability due to his gambling habits and an unwillingness to compromise with Hollywood. His later works were less commercially successful, but he remained a prolific writer, publishing essays, memoirs, and plays throughout his life.
Saroyan's legacy endures through his influence on American literature, his contributions to Armenian cultural identity, and the honors bestowed upon him, including a posthumous induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame. His remains are divided between Fresno, California, and Armenia, reflecting his deep connection to both his birthplace and ancestral homeland.

Reviews

[Ian]

DNF at page 38.

A few years ago I read Saroyan’s collection The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, which I had quite liked. That was, I believe, his first published book, whereas this one came towards the end of his writing career. Here the car journey serves simply as a “vehicle”, if I may use that expression, for Saroyan to expound random thoughts about life, in a sort of extreme stream-of-consciousness style. Sometimes this sort of thing works for me. This was one occasion where it didn’t.

The book is quite short and is an easy enough read, so I could have finished it, but I was starting to find it quite irritating. No rating as I didn’t finish it.

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saroyan solidified the take in my mind that Hemingway is to writing as Wilt Chamberlain is to basketball - which would make Steinbeck, Bill Russell - thank you

I'm a defender of the walk as man's greatest defense against madness, this little diddy may just have made the drive 1b on that mount rushmore

[Murray Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a strange, and disappointing, little book. I picked it up expecting something along the lines of Blue Highways or Travels with Charley -- a drive across America with the writer's observations on the people, landscape, and culture as they go by. Instead, I'm stuck in a car with someone who loves to talk, who rambles on about their family, Hemingway, night driving, and much more which has little relevance to the towns he passes through, and is often flat out boring. Didn't know whether I was relieved or disappointed when the book suddenly ended barely a third of the way across the country; did he run out of things to say, or did he finally realize just how uninteresting it all was?

[Tristan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this book and any rambling inconsistent and random connection-making stream of consciousness writing like it. This Neal Cassady esque prose isn’t as scatteredly genius as the author believes it sounds.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well written and very entertaining!

[Colin Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing wrong with an old ramblin’ man

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, rambling book about William's road trip with his cousin John. They talk about everything and anything from film and art to "thoughtful animals" and life. A lot of funny and interesting things happen. Funnily, Kerouac always said how influenced he was by Saroyan, but in this book (written in the mid-60s) it seems that Saroyan may have been influenced by Kerouac: it's his most thought-racing, typewriter-zooming, conversation-based novel that I know of, plus it's about two people chattering in a car on a road trip. Sounds familiar, but Saroyan is his usual and unique self, so it doesn't come off as a pastiche at all. Excellent read.

[Saski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange, mostly stream of consciousness.

[Rafael Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

O que acontece quando se trata bem de uma limosine (o neal foi um idiota)