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Vision Quest
You think I’m just another muscle-bound, sex-crazed, fuzzy-brained, futureless JOCK.
But You’re Wrong.
I dream big. I love hard. I think far. I act fast. I live humbly. I want to win.
And, yeah, I’m a jock.
My Vision. My Quest. My Life.
The cult classic coming-of-age novel is back.
But You’re Wrong.
I dream big. I love hard. I think far. I act fast. I live humbly. I want to win.
And, yeah, I’m a jock.
My Vision. My Quest. My Life.
The cult classic coming-of-age novel is back.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 1979
49 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Terry Davis
81 books20 followersTerry Davis is an American novelist who lives near Spokane, Washington, and is a professor emeritus of English at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU Mankato), where he taught Creative writing – fiction and screenwriting – as well as adolescent literature. Davis, who has been a high school English teacher and a wrestling coach, is the author of three novels for young adults: Vision Quest (1979), Mysterious Ways (1984), and If Rock & Roll Were a Machine (1992). He has also written Presenting Chris Crutcher, a biography of the respected young-adult author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
April 27, 2021
"A person doesn't have to be a great athlete or politician or doctor or artist or entrepreneur or performer of any type or degree of greatness to find challenge in life. About half of the time I think it's a great victory just to be able to smile semi-regularly, to keep your head up, [and] to keep from giving in and getting mean." -- the ruminations of teenager Louden Swain, pages 152-153
My paperback of Vision Quest states "the cult classic coming-of-age novel is back," and also trumpets a comparison to The Catcher in the Rye, but I think both things are a bit of a stretch - protagonist Louden Swain is one fairly mature and well-adjusted eighteen year-old high school senior hailing from the Pacific Northwest. If anything, the book is 'young adult' in the best sense of that phrasing.
It is autumn 1972 - mentions are made of NASA's Skylab, Nixon & Agnew in their second term, and Louden's divorced dad owning one of the first Honda dealerships in the region - but this is not a nostalgia-heavy and/or-dependent story. Instead, the reader simply follows Louden as he finishes his final semester in school (he'll be graduating early) and trains for a big wrestling match (his opponent is a formidable man-mountain named Shute) scheduled for just after the winter holiday break. Louden is a disciplined and thoughtful young man - although a self-described 'jock,' he methodically works out and follows a strict diet to stay in a certain weight class, while his interest in keeping his body in peak physical condition has also led him to seriously consider as career as a physician. Also, he has an unusual arrangement where his girlfriend - the worldly twenty year-old and auburn-haired Carla, who fled from a bad family situation in Chicago - actually lives with he and his dad (!). I found it to be one of those wonderfully low-key, slice-of-life stories that doesn't try too hard - it nicely side-steps some of the obvious directions it could've gone in - yet still feels fresh and original.
My paperback of Vision Quest states "the cult classic coming-of-age novel is back," and also trumpets a comparison to The Catcher in the Rye, but I think both things are a bit of a stretch - protagonist Louden Swain is one fairly mature and well-adjusted eighteen year-old high school senior hailing from the Pacific Northwest. If anything, the book is 'young adult' in the best sense of that phrasing.
It is autumn 1972 - mentions are made of NASA's Skylab, Nixon & Agnew in their second term, and Louden's divorced dad owning one of the first Honda dealerships in the region - but this is not a nostalgia-heavy and/or-dependent story. Instead, the reader simply follows Louden as he finishes his final semester in school (he'll be graduating early) and trains for a big wrestling match (his opponent is a formidable man-mountain named Shute) scheduled for just after the winter holiday break. Louden is a disciplined and thoughtful young man - although a self-described 'jock,' he methodically works out and follows a strict diet to stay in a certain weight class, while his interest in keeping his body in peak physical condition has also led him to seriously consider as career as a physician. Also, he has an unusual arrangement where his girlfriend - the worldly twenty year-old and auburn-haired Carla, who fled from a bad family situation in Chicago - actually lives with he and his dad (!). I found it to be one of those wonderfully low-key, slice-of-life stories that doesn't try too hard - it nicely side-steps some of the obvious directions it could've gone in - yet still feels fresh and original.
January 28, 2009
Terry Davis was one of my favorite writing teachers when I was in college. Our fiction writing class got to read this book on its way to publication. I fell in love with protagonist Louden Swain. This achingly honest, real coming-of-age story is well worth a read.
September 5, 2020
Vision Quest" is one of the movies that all wrestlers covet, however I never even knew the book existed until recently.
The book isn't exactly like the movie, so if your like me and just finding the book after you've loved the movie for years, all I can tell you is, in the book, Louden never wrestles Shute and Shute's first name isn't Brian, its Gary??
Terry Davis is a great writer and this book is written very well. For a novel written about being a teenager and a high school wrestler, you'd be surprised to find out that it was written in 1979.
Louden Swain is an unforgettable character, both as a teenager and as a wrestler.
Not all fans of "Vision Quest' the movie will enjoy this read, but some who see the bigger picture of the story will.
Great writing, excellent book!
The book isn't exactly like the movie, so if your like me and just finding the book after you've loved the movie for years, all I can tell you is, in the book, Louden never wrestles Shute and Shute's first name isn't Brian, its Gary??
Terry Davis is a great writer and this book is written very well. For a novel written about being a teenager and a high school wrestler, you'd be surprised to find out that it was written in 1979.
Louden Swain is an unforgettable character, both as a teenager and as a wrestler.
Not all fans of "Vision Quest' the movie will enjoy this read, but some who see the bigger picture of the story will.
Great writing, excellent book!
July 23, 2008
Technically, this is a Young Adult novel, but I don't want to ghettoize one of the greatest books I"ve ever read (and re-read.) Was made into a movie back in 85 or 6 with Linda Fiorentino and Matthew Modine--Madonna's Crazy For You was on the soundtrack, but I digress. About a high school wrestler who gains weight in order to wrestle the best wrestler in the state. Apparently author Terry Davis was mentored by Chris Crutcher and this is definitely a case of the student eclipsing the teacher as it's far better than almost anything Crutcher's written. Will make you believe in the human race again.
September 5, 2020
This book was interesting. I found out it had been made into a film in the 1980's so decided to read the book before watching the movie. (Which I still have not seen yet.) Didn't read any of the reviews until after I finished the book, so I was surprised at the broad range of comments. I can understand why the reviews were so different and how they captured some of the same things I felt about the book.
The best part about this book is that it proved some teenage students have very strong work ethics. Whether it's just academics, sports, part time job, or all of the above. Growing up, I noticed there were about three different types of students in my high school class. Those who knew exactly what they wanted to do upon graduation and worked hard to achieve that goal; students who were on the fence and hoping that college (if they could afford to go) would help them discover their true vocation; and lastly, those who just didn't have a clue. Each group had students from various socioeconomic backgrounds. So you could witness a student from a wealthy family just going through the motions to graduate and experimenting with drugs on the side at the same time as watching another student from a lower to middle class background working two part time jobs, staying on the honor roll, and attaining a scholarship to a college that they wanted very much to attend. Louden Swain was one of these types of students.
What I disliked about the book was a lack of closure for characters like Carla, Louden's father, Kuch, and of course Louden's final high school wrestling match. It's my opinion that the author wanted the reader to decide for themselves the true outcome because of all of the hard work Louden put into his training.
When time permits, I'll watch the movie and maybe update this review. Or not.
Okay, so I finally watched the movie that was released in 1985. Good soundtrack. Loved the Journey music. Brought back great memories for me from that decade. Film was far more tame than book in language and sex. Most of the time I'm cynical about a film produced from a book because I'm a firm believer that the book is always better. This movie is an exception. Even though there were a lot of things translated differently from book to film, it was still a decent movie. I view both as separate entities that were equally entertaining. Also, the fact that they both conveyed the same message regarding Louden's view of life and youth and hard work paying off was important to me.
The best part about this book is that it proved some teenage students have very strong work ethics. Whether it's just academics, sports, part time job, or all of the above. Growing up, I noticed there were about three different types of students in my high school class. Those who knew exactly what they wanted to do upon graduation and worked hard to achieve that goal; students who were on the fence and hoping that college (if they could afford to go) would help them discover their true vocation; and lastly, those who just didn't have a clue. Each group had students from various socioeconomic backgrounds. So you could witness a student from a wealthy family just going through the motions to graduate and experimenting with drugs on the side at the same time as watching another student from a lower to middle class background working two part time jobs, staying on the honor roll, and attaining a scholarship to a college that they wanted very much to attend. Louden Swain was one of these types of students.
What I disliked about the book was a lack of closure for characters like Carla, Louden's father, Kuch, and of course Louden's final high school wrestling match. It's my opinion that the author wanted the reader to decide for themselves the true outcome because of all of the hard work Louden put into his training.
When time permits, I'll watch the movie and maybe update this review. Or not.
Okay, so I finally watched the movie that was released in 1985. Good soundtrack. Loved the Journey music. Brought back great memories for me from that decade. Film was far more tame than book in language and sex. Most of the time I'm cynical about a film produced from a book because I'm a firm believer that the book is always better. This movie is an exception. Even though there were a lot of things translated differently from book to film, it was still a decent movie. I view both as separate entities that were equally entertaining. Also, the fact that they both conveyed the same message regarding Louden's view of life and youth and hard work paying off was important to me.
August 3, 2008
Terry Davis is the reason Chris Crutcher is a published author. This novel is sooo much better than the film. The ending is very courageous for a new author. My guys really have to ponder it...and pondering is a good thing!
September 3, 2018
Years ago I saw the movie first and really liked it, so I finally got around to reading the book. Lots of differences between the two. For once, I like the movie better, but the book is a good coming of age story.
June 29, 2024
Not gonna lie. This is one of those novels that managed to surprise me in good ways and bad.
(From acclaimed author Terry Davis comes the cult classic, Vision Quest , which was called “the truest novel about growing up since The Catcher in the Rye ” by New York Times bestselling author John Irving.
Louden Swain is a high school wrestler who is working hard to cut his weight down. All he wants is to win his weight division in the state championships. But he’s distracted from his goals by the older girl with car trouble that is staying with his family for a while. He is quickly falling in love with her, but can Louden make a relationship work and reach his wrestling goals at the same time?
Filled with integrity, honesty, and a sweetness that has made this coming-of-age story a cult classic, Vision Quest is a story that will be shared for generations to come.) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
Louden was a fantastic character. He really wants to lose enough weight to get into the same weight class as Shute (the undefeated wrestling champ), but he's willing to do it safely, even if that plan eventually flops. He also knows that he wants to become a doctor and is already taking college courses via mail. However, it's clear that he's still figuring a few things out. In other words, he's got this strong sense of maturity, but still has room to grow, making for a very believable and interesting character.
Speaking of characters, Shute was quite an interesting character himself. So throughout the novel, he's built up to be this ruthless, unstoppable force. But in This may be a small detail, but it really goes a long way into humanizing Shute and making him into something more than just some guy Louden has to fight.
The way the setting was handled was great. So this novel takes place in 1970's Washington and from the way people talk to the technology and pop cultural references to the general attitudes on certain subjects and so on and from the way these elements are used, the reader gets just enough clues to make the setting clear to them in a way that feels very natural and very realistic. Yes, this novel did come out in 1979, but my point still stands.
The prose was surprisingly fantastic at times. I think it really shines in chapter eight in the moments where Louden is describing the surrounding nature he's witnessing.
That being said, it was rather hard to follow at times. Part of this has to do with the fact that, much like with The Necessary Hunger, it has a habit of over relying on technical terms to describe things. In Vision Quest's case, this is most apparent in chapter ten with the wrestling practice. Seriously, the vast majority of this chapter is just technical terms (i.e double chicken wing, etc). Now a few terms here and there is fine, especially for commonly known terms and/or for the sake of conveying a character's expertise with a particular sport and whatnot. But this is just overkill and maybe replacing some of the technical terms with actual descriptions wouldn't have been a bad idea.
Also, I hated the ending. Long story short (and no spoiler tags so read at your own risk), Louden gets to wrestle Shute. But as soon as the match starts, the novel stops. It doesn't end. It just stops. I wish I was kidding. I cannot for the life of me understand why the ending is the way it is. A good chunk (and I do mean, a good chunk) of the novel is building up to this one match and there's just no payoff. It makes the novel feel unfinished and it makes the reader feel like they just wasted their time. Also, before you say anything, no. There is no actual sequel to this novel, so I can't even say that this is intended to get people interested in reading the next entry. Even if Louden had lost or tied with Shute, it still would've been something.
Overall, Vision Quest was a novel with a strong sense of authenticity and some great characters that I wish had a better ending.
Overall Grade: B+
(From acclaimed author Terry Davis comes the cult classic, Vision Quest , which was called “the truest novel about growing up since The Catcher in the Rye ” by New York Times bestselling author John Irving.
Louden Swain is a high school wrestler who is working hard to cut his weight down. All he wants is to win his weight division in the state championships. But he’s distracted from his goals by the older girl with car trouble that is staying with his family for a while. He is quickly falling in love with her, but can Louden make a relationship work and reach his wrestling goals at the same time?
Filled with integrity, honesty, and a sweetness that has made this coming-of-age story a cult classic, Vision Quest is a story that will be shared for generations to come.) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
Louden was a fantastic character. He really wants to lose enough weight to get into the same weight class as Shute (the undefeated wrestling champ), but he's willing to do it safely, even if that plan eventually flops. He also knows that he wants to become a doctor and is already taking college courses via mail. However, it's clear that he's still figuring a few things out. In other words, he's got this strong sense of maturity, but still has room to grow, making for a very believable and interesting character.
Speaking of characters, Shute was quite an interesting character himself. So throughout the novel, he's built up to be this ruthless, unstoppable force. But in This may be a small detail, but it really goes a long way into humanizing Shute and making him into something more than just some guy Louden has to fight.
The way the setting was handled was great. So this novel takes place in 1970's Washington and from the way people talk to the technology and pop cultural references to the general attitudes on certain subjects and so on and from the way these elements are used, the reader gets just enough clues to make the setting clear to them in a way that feels very natural and very realistic. Yes, this novel did come out in 1979, but my point still stands.
The prose was surprisingly fantastic at times. I think it really shines in chapter eight in the moments where Louden is describing the surrounding nature he's witnessing.
That being said, it was rather hard to follow at times. Part of this has to do with the fact that, much like with The Necessary Hunger, it has a habit of over relying on technical terms to describe things. In Vision Quest's case, this is most apparent in chapter ten with the wrestling practice. Seriously, the vast majority of this chapter is just technical terms (i.e double chicken wing, etc). Now a few terms here and there is fine, especially for commonly known terms and/or for the sake of conveying a character's expertise with a particular sport and whatnot. But this is just overkill and maybe replacing some of the technical terms with actual descriptions wouldn't have been a bad idea.
Also, I hated the ending. Long story short (and no spoiler tags so read at your own risk), Louden gets to wrestle Shute. But as soon as the match starts, the novel stops. It doesn't end. It just stops. I wish I was kidding. I cannot for the life of me understand why the ending is the way it is. A good chunk (and I do mean, a good chunk) of the novel is building up to this one match and there's just no payoff. It makes the novel feel unfinished and it makes the reader feel like they just wasted their time. Also, before you say anything, no. There is no actual sequel to this novel, so I can't even say that this is intended to get people interested in reading the next entry. Even if Louden had lost or tied with Shute, it still would've been something.
Overall, Vision Quest was a novel with a strong sense of authenticity and some great characters that I wish had a better ending.
Overall Grade: B+
November 27, 2017
Overall, I think this book was pretty good. What I liked most about this book was that it was a book about a high school wrestler. I'm a wrestler and I can relate to a lot of the stuff that the book contains. Another thing I liked about this book was how the author portrayed how Louden was feeling through all the events he went through. For example, he had to lose 29 pounds in 2 weeks to wrestle the undefeated, reining state champion; Shute (his last name).
Something I didn't like about the book was how quickly it went by at the end. I would've rather had a bit more detail about the ending match with Shute. I just cut off right at the start of the match, which made me want to throw the book out the window, because it made me so mad that it just cut off and didn't say who won. I was really waiting for that, but it didn't say. The thing I did like about the ending, though, was the words the author put at the end. I made me feel like I was in a match again, and I was the one wrestling Shute.
Something I didn't like about the book was how quickly it went by at the end. I would've rather had a bit more detail about the ending match with Shute. I just cut off right at the start of the match, which made me want to throw the book out the window, because it made me so mad that it just cut off and didn't say who won. I was really waiting for that, but it didn't say. The thing I did like about the ending, though, was the words the author put at the end. I made me feel like I was in a match again, and I was the one wrestling Shute.
June 8, 2008
I finally tracked down a copy of the book that inspired the movie I've watched like 58502855 billion times. I already liked the character Loudin Swain--hell I even named one of my characters after him--but I really fell in love with him through the book, which is much more nuanced than the movie. Matthew Modine was a great Loudin, because though his expressions and thoughts he was able to fill in the gaps the movie created. Still going back and really getting to know this character was definitely a treat.
February 13, 2025
If you're expecting this book to be a mirror of the movie, it will leave you disappointed. The book is well written. Wrestling is a theme around Louden figures out life, while wrestling with the idea of keeping balance in life...balance of enjoying and focusing on the now and knowing that nobody gets out of this life alive.
For me there's a lot of time focused on sex between him and Carla. While not graphic, it's too much for me when considering this is a high school student.
While the book was good, this is one of the few times where the movie is better than the book. This is probably due to me having higher and different expectations of the book which were based upon the movie.
I'm still glad I read it. If you're a fan of the movie you should read it too. They are just two different animals.
For me there's a lot of time focused on sex between him and Carla. While not graphic, it's too much for me when considering this is a high school student.
While the book was good, this is one of the few times where the movie is better than the book. This is probably due to me having higher and different expectations of the book which were based upon the movie.
I'm still glad I read it. If you're a fan of the movie you should read it too. They are just two different animals.
December 29, 2020
Well this novel definitely opened my eyes to what it’s like to grow up as a teenage boy. Despite the harsh language and constant sexual references, the book builds in anticipation of a major event, demonstrating the protagonist’s commitment, diligence, intelligence, and ability to maintain discipline in order to achieve. Seems like most high school wrestlers would relate to the main character and enjoy the book.
March 12, 2016
Vision Quest by Terry Davis, the coming of age novel, is a superb gem. I keep returning to it for repeated readings. I am rewarded with the gift of the protagonist, Louden Swain's unabashed candor and uproarious humor. I, as a reader, sense his aches, growing pains, and finite epiphanies. Louden, the wrestler, doggedly preparing to face the fiercest wrestling opponent in the state, by cutting weight while attempting to retain strength, is at the height of his youth. Yet Louden is grappling with the most obliterating of opponents outside the ring--the swiftness of life and finding a place within the fragile but beautiful fabric.
I gasp at Davis' first person narration handled by the most genuine of characters: Louden Swain. Davis' prose weaves a silk spider web that is both beautiful and delicate that Louden admires despite his capacity for brute strength. Louden surmises that life itself inescapably ends in death, but he manages, with mighty breaths, to exert effort and inhale the majesty of nature, life, and self-evident philosophy. Despite his rank cauliflower-ear from his wrestling, Louden exhales the sweet breath of life as he explores, navigates, and embraces young sexuality with the experienced character of Carla. Vision Quest is a life-affirming novel that compresses the urgency of time with the heartbeat of ardent passion.
In the end, Louden's trials, preparations, and physical toil grant the realization of the need not to just merely grasp life but grapple with it on the balls of your feet, like the most assured of wrestlers. By the novel's conclusion, Louden Swain is ready to launch himself into the wrestling ring as a warm-up to the life beyond high school. Terry Davis equips his character of Louden Swain with essentials that can only be garnered by dedication, effort, and experience--or by reading timeless literature and listening to invigorating music while asking big questions of life. There are more questions than answers, but Davis manages to keep the reader involved in the need to live life thoughtfully; that is, enjoy and make the most out of fleeting existence in juxtaposition of the annals of time, particularly nature, history, and recorded and written word. Vision Quest, moreover, is a story, not just about actions, but the eloquent words and notions that underpin the splendor of life. Davis seems to be saying: Participate, compete, reflect, and share what the world offers--a timeless sentiment from a truly great novel for those of any age.
I gasp at Davis' first person narration handled by the most genuine of characters: Louden Swain. Davis' prose weaves a silk spider web that is both beautiful and delicate that Louden admires despite his capacity for brute strength. Louden surmises that life itself inescapably ends in death, but he manages, with mighty breaths, to exert effort and inhale the majesty of nature, life, and self-evident philosophy. Despite his rank cauliflower-ear from his wrestling, Louden exhales the sweet breath of life as he explores, navigates, and embraces young sexuality with the experienced character of Carla. Vision Quest is a life-affirming novel that compresses the urgency of time with the heartbeat of ardent passion.
In the end, Louden's trials, preparations, and physical toil grant the realization of the need not to just merely grasp life but grapple with it on the balls of your feet, like the most assured of wrestlers. By the novel's conclusion, Louden Swain is ready to launch himself into the wrestling ring as a warm-up to the life beyond high school. Terry Davis equips his character of Louden Swain with essentials that can only be garnered by dedication, effort, and experience--or by reading timeless literature and listening to invigorating music while asking big questions of life. There are more questions than answers, but Davis manages to keep the reader involved in the need to live life thoughtfully; that is, enjoy and make the most out of fleeting existence in juxtaposition of the annals of time, particularly nature, history, and recorded and written word. Vision Quest, moreover, is a story, not just about actions, but the eloquent words and notions that underpin the splendor of life. Davis seems to be saying: Participate, compete, reflect, and share what the world offers--a timeless sentiment from a truly great novel for those of any age.
April 15, 2025
I watched the film adaptation countless times as a kid but only learned of the book’s existence a few years ago. The YA label that has become affixed to it kind of turned me off initially but I finally decided to give it a try.
I enjoyed the story and setting, Louden is a great character; he’s a realistic eighteen year old high school senior of that era and place (Spokane, WA, 1972) where life was tougher. He’s a smart young man, he’s taking correspondence college courses and reads medical texts, spirital and philosphical works, etc… for self interest, he has decent self awareness, discipline and a strong work ethic (both his wrestling and his plan to graduate early and go to work full time so he can help out his dad, even though by doing so he won’t be able to compete at state), and even as a great athlete, all these positive traits guarantee him nothing. He could go to college and become a medical doctor, as he dreams, or he could stay right where he is hoping to advance from meaninless jobs to something more permanent but still blue collar, and continue his hand to mouth existence. What is interesting is I got the filling he would still find a way to be fullfilled spiritually and intellectually no matter what path he takes. Carla is also a much more deep character here in the novel than what I was used to from the film, as is Louden’s entire journey. There is also great wrestling description here, from the crude comraderie to technical details and descriptions of practices and meets.
I was suprised about the amount of sex, both general discussion of sex acts and related topics; fantasizing over women and girls, crude discussion of masturbation, older male teachers showing unrepentant sexual interest in students, quite a bit of other sexual abuse alluded to in more detail than I felt necessary, especially as a YA novel. However, with a protaganist/narrator like Louden, and since we are privy to his thoughts, it all fits and is realistic to the character of a teen boy and the time. The 70s were sketchy, worse than the 60s or 80s in my opinion (though I wasn’t around for the 60s, its just a feeling). Since it’s set in 1972 (published in 1979) Louden is not really a boomer, and not Gen X, more what they call Generation Jones which in many ways has stereotypical traits of both. However, because it was published in ‘79 and the film came out mid-80’s it feels GenX-ish. So I think everything in there feels completely realistic and plausible to many older GenXers whereas I think younger readers might be aghast at many events and at how casually Louden describes them.
One problem I found was it was hard to keep track of the timeline due to the amount of flashbacks. This could have been due in part to my reading this on Kindle, which I don’t use often as the formatting bothers me. The problem in this book was the flashbacks happen at any moment and can be over in a few lines or last several pages, and there are not clear indicators in the text when they start or end (like some authors bookend the beginning and end of a flashback by the use of “had” before the verb, eg, “I had walked home from school that day”. All of that was made worse because there were frequent flashbacks and even flashfowards within the original flashback.
I also was not a fan of the ending. I will say, there was a nice change in Louden’s character at the end as the match with Shute drew near, where he displayed some real growth over the course of the novel. It was actually a suprise for me.
This was a good read. I love the movie, probably in big part because for years it was the only wrestling movie out there, but it felt choppy, a little strange in places like a lot had been lost in editing. I’m not sure if that was the case or if the screenplay had already been chopped of novel content in the first place and it was intended. But I enjoyed getting the full story here in the novel, the film makes a lot more sense now that I can just incorporate what is in the book between scenes, haha. I would rate the film 3.5/5 stars, and that is exactly what I would rate the novel (rounding down, they just don’t rate a round up to 4/5). Though each come to that rating for different reasons. I would not recommend this as a general coming of age novel; its just too dated, especially some of the sexual content, it would freak out many of today’s more sensitive readers. I would still recommend it to young wrestlers (probably best for older teens only) seeking out this type of sports story, as well as those looking for coming of age stuff written and set in this era where you know what you are getting into.
I enjoyed the story and setting, Louden is a great character; he’s a realistic eighteen year old high school senior of that era and place (Spokane, WA, 1972) where life was tougher. He’s a smart young man, he’s taking correspondence college courses and reads medical texts, spirital and philosphical works, etc… for self interest, he has decent self awareness, discipline and a strong work ethic (both his wrestling and his plan to graduate early and go to work full time so he can help out his dad, even though by doing so he won’t be able to compete at state), and even as a great athlete, all these positive traits guarantee him nothing. He could go to college and become a medical doctor, as he dreams, or he could stay right where he is hoping to advance from meaninless jobs to something more permanent but still blue collar, and continue his hand to mouth existence. What is interesting is I got the filling he would still find a way to be fullfilled spiritually and intellectually no matter what path he takes. Carla is also a much more deep character here in the novel than what I was used to from the film, as is Louden’s entire journey. There is also great wrestling description here, from the crude comraderie to technical details and descriptions of practices and meets.
I was suprised about the amount of sex, both general discussion of sex acts and related topics; fantasizing over women and girls, crude discussion of masturbation, older male teachers showing unrepentant sexual interest in students, quite a bit of other sexual abuse alluded to in more detail than I felt necessary, especially as a YA novel. However, with a protaganist/narrator like Louden, and since we are privy to his thoughts, it all fits and is realistic to the character of a teen boy and the time. The 70s were sketchy, worse than the 60s or 80s in my opinion (though I wasn’t around for the 60s, its just a feeling). Since it’s set in 1972 (published in 1979) Louden is not really a boomer, and not Gen X, more what they call Generation Jones which in many ways has stereotypical traits of both. However, because it was published in ‘79 and the film came out mid-80’s it feels GenX-ish. So I think everything in there feels completely realistic and plausible to many older GenXers whereas I think younger readers might be aghast at many events and at how casually Louden describes them.
One problem I found was it was hard to keep track of the timeline due to the amount of flashbacks. This could have been due in part to my reading this on Kindle, which I don’t use often as the formatting bothers me. The problem in this book was the flashbacks happen at any moment and can be over in a few lines or last several pages, and there are not clear indicators in the text when they start or end (like some authors bookend the beginning and end of a flashback by the use of “had” before the verb, eg, “I had walked home from school that day”. All of that was made worse because there were frequent flashbacks and even flashfowards within the original flashback.
I also was not a fan of the ending. I will say, there was a nice change in Louden’s character at the end as the match with Shute drew near, where he displayed some real growth over the course of the novel. It was actually a suprise for me.
This was a good read. I love the movie, probably in big part because for years it was the only wrestling movie out there, but it felt choppy, a little strange in places like a lot had been lost in editing. I’m not sure if that was the case or if the screenplay had already been chopped of novel content in the first place and it was intended. But I enjoyed getting the full story here in the novel, the film makes a lot more sense now that I can just incorporate what is in the book between scenes, haha. I would rate the film 3.5/5 stars, and that is exactly what I would rate the novel (rounding down, they just don’t rate a round up to 4/5). Though each come to that rating for different reasons. I would not recommend this as a general coming of age novel; its just too dated, especially some of the sexual content, it would freak out many of today’s more sensitive readers. I would still recommend it to young wrestlers (probably best for older teens only) seeking out this type of sports story, as well as those looking for coming of age stuff written and set in this era where you know what you are getting into.
Read
March 18, 2019I've read this book multiple times, and own a first edition hardcover from 1979. I knew of the movie first, and found the book in my HS library. I've read it probably ten times. I love the book, and I've gotten to know Terry Davis a little bit through emails, he is a great guy and an awesome writer.
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October 17, 2007I recently found out (through this site) that one of my favorite high school movies came from this book. The book is really different, but mostly because of time and place.
I loved the pacing and the insight this book has.
It really reveals the best part of the male libido.
I loved the pacing and the insight this book has.
It really reveals the best part of the male libido.
June 1, 2017
this will probably be one of the first books I give my son to read when he starts high school. A really steady book that avoids a lot of the tright pitfalls that books of this ilk often blunder into.
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October 6, 2016great novel
October 23, 2022
I first read this novel in 1980 shortly after it came out when I was a junior in high school, sucking about 20 pounds of weight every week to make 132. I'm pretty sure Tom Yates recommended it to me. I then read it again in 1990 for a Young Adult Lit class, and that's where this review comes from. Back when I was a junior, I would have given the book five stars, and so that's what I'm clicking on here. It hardly matters what I'd give it now...I thought then, and I'd still say it today, that this is the best novel about high school wrestling that's been written. Maybe the best novel ever written about wrestling...
+++++++++++++++
"Having a serious girlfriend is not all fun and games. There's responsibility in it," says Louden Swain, 147-pounder and protagonist of Terry Davis' novel, Vision Quest. He should know, because his girlfriend Carla and he don't have an ordinary, run-of-the-mill relationship for a couple of high school students; twenty-year-old Carla lives in the same house with Louden and his father. Their sexual relationship is depicted rather graphically throughout the course of the story as Carla and Louden become lovers.
This unorthodox relationship is interesting, both to the adolescent reader and to anyone else., but their relationship isn't really the focus of Davis' novel. Wrestling is, and Louden is moving to 147 his senior year to go against Shute, the toughest wrestler in the state of Washington. The story follows Louden through the year as he trains for the match. For Louden, this meet is far more than just a six-minute wrestling match; it's the culminating point of his life, the moment for which he has prepared his body and soul. The book ends with Louden facing off against Shute on the mat as the referee blows his whistle. "Through me," he says, "flows the power to blast Grand Coulee Dam to smithereens." This preparation for the match is a "vision quest" for Louden, a time of physical exertion and fasting which leads to self-discovery and self-understanding, a way of seeing himself in the great circle, the circle of life as well as that final circle on the mat where he'll stand with Shute.
This novel may have a rather limited appeal, although I quite like it, having grown up in Iowa City, a community where wrestling is very popular, and having wrestled in high school and gone through the physical rigors of weight cutting and the discipline of the wrestling room. Terry Davis also was a wrestler, and he did his MFA in Iowa City, so he knows a lot about the sport, and his novel doesn't gloss over the subject. This is a wrestling novel, so there's a real potential for it to be quite boring to anyone who has no interest in the sport.
As a teacher, I don't think I'd ever use it in the classroom due to the graphic sexual passages in the book, but I would certainly include it on an outside reading list, particularly in a unit dealing with identity or the individual. Additionally, this novel could be used as an interesting counterpart to books containing the "quest" theme. It would not be unreasonable to compare the "quest" here with those in Arthurian legend, examining how in each the "quest" demonstrates a search for identity and self-understanding. Vision Quest has also been made into a rather dismal Hollywood movie, and students could address differences between the novel and movie. Vision Quest, the novel, ends before Louden's final match. The movie, on the other hand, goes beyond the book and depicts the match. Students could argue about the effectiveness of this choice, whether this is in keeping with the author's intent and whether it is really necessary to see the match.
+++++++++++++++
Reviewed for Literature for Young Adults course, February 1990
+++++++++++++++
"Having a serious girlfriend is not all fun and games. There's responsibility in it," says Louden Swain, 147-pounder and protagonist of Terry Davis' novel, Vision Quest. He should know, because his girlfriend Carla and he don't have an ordinary, run-of-the-mill relationship for a couple of high school students; twenty-year-old Carla lives in the same house with Louden and his father. Their sexual relationship is depicted rather graphically throughout the course of the story as Carla and Louden become lovers.
This unorthodox relationship is interesting, both to the adolescent reader and to anyone else., but their relationship isn't really the focus of Davis' novel. Wrestling is, and Louden is moving to 147 his senior year to go against Shute, the toughest wrestler in the state of Washington. The story follows Louden through the year as he trains for the match. For Louden, this meet is far more than just a six-minute wrestling match; it's the culminating point of his life, the moment for which he has prepared his body and soul. The book ends with Louden facing off against Shute on the mat as the referee blows his whistle. "Through me," he says, "flows the power to blast Grand Coulee Dam to smithereens." This preparation for the match is a "vision quest" for Louden, a time of physical exertion and fasting which leads to self-discovery and self-understanding, a way of seeing himself in the great circle, the circle of life as well as that final circle on the mat where he'll stand with Shute.
This novel may have a rather limited appeal, although I quite like it, having grown up in Iowa City, a community where wrestling is very popular, and having wrestled in high school and gone through the physical rigors of weight cutting and the discipline of the wrestling room. Terry Davis also was a wrestler, and he did his MFA in Iowa City, so he knows a lot about the sport, and his novel doesn't gloss over the subject. This is a wrestling novel, so there's a real potential for it to be quite boring to anyone who has no interest in the sport.
As a teacher, I don't think I'd ever use it in the classroom due to the graphic sexual passages in the book, but I would certainly include it on an outside reading list, particularly in a unit dealing with identity or the individual. Additionally, this novel could be used as an interesting counterpart to books containing the "quest" theme. It would not be unreasonable to compare the "quest" here with those in Arthurian legend, examining how in each the "quest" demonstrates a search for identity and self-understanding. Vision Quest has also been made into a rather dismal Hollywood movie, and students could address differences between the novel and movie. Vision Quest, the novel, ends before Louden's final match. The movie, on the other hand, goes beyond the book and depicts the match. Students could argue about the effectiveness of this choice, whether this is in keeping with the author's intent and whether it is really necessary to see the match.
+++++++++++++++
Reviewed for Literature for Young Adults course, February 1990
May 22, 2025
A few months ago my husband and I attended the 40th Anniversary of the movie Vision Quest. It was filmed in our town and the book it was based on also takes place in our town. Matthew Modine, who starred in the show, was there at the screening along with the author of the original book, Terry Davis, and the author Jess Walters who was moderating. It was an interesting night. We watched the movie that we have seen many times and then watched it at home again with our daughter. Before that event I had no idea that the movie was based on an actual book. I decided to read the book to see how it compared to the movie which is an 80s classic. The book was published in 1979.
The novel takes place in 1972 in Spokane, WA. It's a coming-of-age story about a humble 18 year old high school wrestler named Louden Swain whose long-standing goal is to make his weight and wrestle a guy named Shute who is the toughest wrestler in the state of WA. The novel builds to this long-awaited wrestling match. Louden is a likable goofy character. Matthew Modine played him to perfection. Louden is a deep thinker who is trying to figure out life through discipline and commitment to his sport. The story follows Louden for a few months during his senior year as he prepares and trains for this epic match aka his "vision quest."
Overall the story was interesting and somewhat different from the movie. I liked that. I liked the character depth that we get in the book verses the movie and that the book explains some of the plot holes in the movie. But to me Spokane, WA was the star of the show! I loved reading vignettes about life in Spokane in the 1970s. I loved when many favorite places were mentioned. So fun!
There were a few things that I didn't love. First, there is a lot of sexually explicit content which was hard to read and surprising to me for a YA book written in 1979. There is also A LOT of wrestling jargon and technical wrestling details. I get it...this is a wrestling novel...but prepare for pages of it. Then I didn't love the ending. All the build up and then I just felt cheated. I definitely prefer the movie ending. Still I found it to be a page-turning novel about a teenage wrestler who is grappling with the meaning of life and what awaits him beyond high school.
My Rating: A fairly interesting novel about wrestling and self-discovery set in my beloved hometown.
The novel takes place in 1972 in Spokane, WA. It's a coming-of-age story about a humble 18 year old high school wrestler named Louden Swain whose long-standing goal is to make his weight and wrestle a guy named Shute who is the toughest wrestler in the state of WA. The novel builds to this long-awaited wrestling match. Louden is a likable goofy character. Matthew Modine played him to perfection. Louden is a deep thinker who is trying to figure out life through discipline and commitment to his sport. The story follows Louden for a few months during his senior year as he prepares and trains for this epic match aka his "vision quest."
Overall the story was interesting and somewhat different from the movie. I liked that. I liked the character depth that we get in the book verses the movie and that the book explains some of the plot holes in the movie. But to me Spokane, WA was the star of the show! I loved reading vignettes about life in Spokane in the 1970s. I loved when many favorite places were mentioned. So fun!
There were a few things that I didn't love. First, there is a lot of sexually explicit content which was hard to read and surprising to me for a YA book written in 1979. There is also A LOT of wrestling jargon and technical wrestling details. I get it...this is a wrestling novel...but prepare for pages of it. Then I didn't love the ending. All the build up and then I just felt cheated. I definitely prefer the movie ending. Still I found it to be a page-turning novel about a teenage wrestler who is grappling with the meaning of life and what awaits him beyond high school.
My Rating: A fairly interesting novel about wrestling and self-discovery set in my beloved hometown.
January 20, 2023
“I think that’s why I love Karla. She’s got all the best qualities I like girls, and all the best qualities I like you guys.” One of the few quotes that made both the movie and book versions, and for one of the longest periods of my life has been my favorite quote of all.
This was my second time reading the novel after I had grown up my whole life wrestling and watching the movie. Probably because I wasn’t very good at the time and was nervous before wrestling in tournaments, is helped me sleep. I could recite my favorite lines and the story kind of made sense, but it has a lot of depth both on screen and on page.
I guess that’s why I keep coming back to it. I still watch the movie once a year and I’m sure nothing will stop me from reading the book again before this year is over.
I really relate to the character of Louden Swain. He is seen as odd and no one really understands him or why he’s want to wrestle Schute, but he is disciplined and dedicated to self-improvement. Terry Davis gradually reveals what kind of specimen Louden is and I feel like it is intentional because you are already scared of Schute by that time. I think he wants us to feel how hard it is for high school students to open themselves up and write honestly.
Like most 18-year olds he is full of shit and eventually reveals his nearly round-the-clock workout routine and his cauliflower ears, and his semi-marital relationship with Carla. I love that in a book about a wrestler the toughest character is the girlfriend, and I’ve had a thing for Carla ever since I first saw the movie. I think she is there to show that even as smart and dedicated as Louden is, he is still a kid. Carla is naturally older, but had to become emotionally older too.
Ultimately I think that the book is Louden’s attempt to find meaning in growing up. And in that way he will be both happy and sad that he will never stop growing up. I think the quote from the end of the movie says it best “I think a lot about the 6-minutes with Schute, and the time I spent with Carla that season. Much had it right, it was a Vision Quest. But all I ever settled for was that we are born to live and then to die… we’ve got to do it alone, each in his own way. And I guess that’s why we gotta love those people who deserve it like there’s no tomorrow. Cause when you get down to it… there isn’t”
This was my second time reading the novel after I had grown up my whole life wrestling and watching the movie. Probably because I wasn’t very good at the time and was nervous before wrestling in tournaments, is helped me sleep. I could recite my favorite lines and the story kind of made sense, but it has a lot of depth both on screen and on page.
I guess that’s why I keep coming back to it. I still watch the movie once a year and I’m sure nothing will stop me from reading the book again before this year is over.
I really relate to the character of Louden Swain. He is seen as odd and no one really understands him or why he’s want to wrestle Schute, but he is disciplined and dedicated to self-improvement. Terry Davis gradually reveals what kind of specimen Louden is and I feel like it is intentional because you are already scared of Schute by that time. I think he wants us to feel how hard it is for high school students to open themselves up and write honestly.
Like most 18-year olds he is full of shit and eventually reveals his nearly round-the-clock workout routine and his cauliflower ears, and his semi-marital relationship with Carla. I love that in a book about a wrestler the toughest character is the girlfriend, and I’ve had a thing for Carla ever since I first saw the movie. I think she is there to show that even as smart and dedicated as Louden is, he is still a kid. Carla is naturally older, but had to become emotionally older too.
Ultimately I think that the book is Louden’s attempt to find meaning in growing up. And in that way he will be both happy and sad that he will never stop growing up. I think the quote from the end of the movie says it best “I think a lot about the 6-minutes with Schute, and the time I spent with Carla that season. Much had it right, it was a Vision Quest. But all I ever settled for was that we are born to live and then to die… we’ve got to do it alone, each in his own way. And I guess that’s why we gotta love those people who deserve it like there’s no tomorrow. Cause when you get down to it… there isn’t”
January 4, 2023
I bought this from Amazon back in October 2021, and put it in the pile of to read books. Some weeks back, December 4th, after 40 plus years of finally getting to read it. LOL! I notice there's 16 empty pages at the back of the book, thought it was odd but whatever. Now I know why there's 16 blank pages. I looked up this version, as I thought the ending may have been off. I'm all for taking an inner look of yourself ending. But I just can't see the big match coming down to the last half page of an 8 page chapter.
Looking this version up I see there's a 24th chapter, and chapter 23 is obviously cut way short. The "end" of chapter 23 is on page 228 (page is half blank). The start of Chapter 24 is page 243. So from 229 - 244 (last page of this book) are completely blank. So that's a complete bummer.
It's a good read. If you love the movie this doesn't take away from it, or really even add to it, as they are pretty much two different stories in how they get to the big match with Shute. One of the biggest differences is Christmas being part of the book, and all that surrounds the holiday. So I guess I read this at the right time. Hopefully I can get to read the last chapter and a half. To see how it really ends.
If you're a Washingtonian it definitely is a must read with the inclusion of Washington only shutouts.
Update: I just found out this morning that Simon & Schuster are sending me a replacement copy. Very cool, as I was not expecting that.
Looking this version up I see there's a 24th chapter, and chapter 23 is obviously cut way short. The "end" of chapter 23 is on page 228 (page is half blank). The start of Chapter 24 is page 243. So from 229 - 244 (last page of this book) are completely blank. So that's a complete bummer.
It's a good read. If you love the movie this doesn't take away from it, or really even add to it, as they are pretty much two different stories in how they get to the big match with Shute. One of the biggest differences is Christmas being part of the book, and all that surrounds the holiday. So I guess I read this at the right time. Hopefully I can get to read the last chapter and a half. To see how it really ends.
If you're a Washingtonian it definitely is a must read with the inclusion of Washington only shutouts.
Update: I just found out this morning that Simon & Schuster are sending me a replacement copy. Very cool, as I was not expecting that.
July 23, 2023
This book is a lot like "Catcher In The Rye" and I don't mean that as a compliment. If you like senseless ramblings of a teenage boy with no story whatsoever, this book is for you.
Loudin Swain is a Senior at a high school in the state of Washington. He is a star wrestler who has determined to go down a weight, losing roughly nine pounds, to wrestle this other great high school wrestler. The whole book is about his inner thoughts as a teenager who is living with his girlfriend, while his father sleeps upstairs from them. The ending is disappointing.
I wrestled one year in high school because they needed someone at the weight I was at. I was bad. I think my record was like 2-20. I wrestled the state champ three times and he had his way with me. I really thought I would enjoy reading about a good high school wrestler and what he went through to be good. I was very disappointed.
I never saw the movie but it can't be worse than the book. Save yourself a few days and watch the movie instead. I never thought I would say that because I always recommend reading the book even if the movie is great. I can't imagine losing two hours compared to a week of reading is something you would regret.
Loudin Swain is a Senior at a high school in the state of Washington. He is a star wrestler who has determined to go down a weight, losing roughly nine pounds, to wrestle this other great high school wrestler. The whole book is about his inner thoughts as a teenager who is living with his girlfriend, while his father sleeps upstairs from them. The ending is disappointing.
I wrestled one year in high school because they needed someone at the weight I was at. I was bad. I think my record was like 2-20. I wrestled the state champ three times and he had his way with me. I really thought I would enjoy reading about a good high school wrestler and what he went through to be good. I was very disappointed.
I never saw the movie but it can't be worse than the book. Save yourself a few days and watch the movie instead. I never thought I would say that because I always recommend reading the book even if the movie is great. I can't imagine losing two hours compared to a week of reading is something you would regret.
August 14, 2023
File me under “people who loved the movie and didn’t know it was a book until I had lunch with my brother last week.” I can’t remember how we got on the topic. Maybe it was because we were having burgers, a huge fad here in Spain, and burgers are very American. Vision Quest is as American as hamburgers.
If this novel hadn’t spawned such a great movie and had I read it without any preconceptions, I would have rated it lower. I think the film made an excellent adaptation and took only what was great from the novel and left everything else out. Darryl Ponicsan adapted the book, Darryl Ponicsan the author of The Last Detail.
The movie for me showed how far you can go if you only try hard enough. I didn’t understand this concept when I was in high school, then had to learn it the hard way as I struggled in my first years of university because I was so ill-prepared.
Whenever anyone tells me they don’t have the talent to learn a musical instrument, or a foreign language, or whatever, or they can't cook, I always ask them if they tried trying. It pisses me off when someone remarks that they have no talent and for that reason they don’t play the piano. Someone told me that she wished she had my talent to play piano. Talent? I have zero talent, but I worked my ass off at it. The same goes for most other things I’ve learned in this life, depending on the phase I was going through. Talent is for a very lucky few. For the rest of us, there's hard work and dedication, and even these two won't guarantee anything approaching success.
If this novel hadn’t spawned such a great movie and had I read it without any preconceptions, I would have rated it lower. I think the film made an excellent adaptation and took only what was great from the novel and left everything else out. Darryl Ponicsan adapted the book, Darryl Ponicsan the author of The Last Detail.
The movie for me showed how far you can go if you only try hard enough. I didn’t understand this concept when I was in high school, then had to learn it the hard way as I struggled in my first years of university because I was so ill-prepared.
Whenever anyone tells me they don’t have the talent to learn a musical instrument, or a foreign language, or whatever, or they can't cook, I always ask them if they tried trying. It pisses me off when someone remarks that they have no talent and for that reason they don’t play the piano. Someone told me that she wished she had my talent to play piano. Talent? I have zero talent, but I worked my ass off at it. The same goes for most other things I’ve learned in this life, depending on the phase I was going through. Talent is for a very lucky few. For the rest of us, there's hard work and dedication, and even these two won't guarantee anything approaching success.
October 21, 2018
Someone said I reminded them of this book, and I became instantly excited to read it. Now that I've read it, I feel like that person was insulting. I hated the protagonist, and many other major characters introduced in this book.
The story is about a boy, who is losing weight to wrestle this one tough guy.
The ending of this book was horrible, when I reached it, I screamed "REALLY", all this anticipation and you are giving us this crap. I was hoping the book would redeem itself, it didn't, in fact it got worse.
The story is about a boy, who is losing weight to wrestle this one tough guy.
The ending of this book was horrible, when I reached it, I screamed "REALLY", all this anticipation and you are giving us this crap. I was hoping the book would redeem itself, it didn't, in fact it got worse.
May 15, 2020
Probably closer to 3.5 stars, and yet, I was disappointed. As a wrestler, I loved the movie and had seen it plenty of times. But the funk of the movie just didn't translate as well onto the page for me. Perhaps if I'd read the book first, I'd think differently, but I'm not sure of that. I just don't think it's a great book. It's good, but it's not even the best wrestling book I've read. So far, that would be Wrestling with Honor.
March 26, 2023
Not the worst thing you’ll feed read but very flat. The main character is obsessed with losing weight for a big match to the point of being pretty disordered about it, while simultaneously hand waving anyone who dares to try and confront him about it away. The characters are mostly two dimensional, especially his girlfriend Carla who is literally just eye candy, and the language didn’t do enough to be particularly engaging.
The movie isn’t much better from my memory, but at least that had a genuinely great soundtrack.
The movie isn’t much better from my memory, but at least that had a genuinely great soundtrack.
November 30, 2022
I did not think this book was all it was said to be. I didn't like how much detail was put into each part of the chapter, and I didn't like when Davis jumped around from paragraph to paragraph a few times. The only parts that were really good was when Louden the main character was at his wrestling meets.
February 18, 2023
I read this years ago...loved it! If you're a fan of the movie, you may be a tiny bit disappointed in the differences. As a book, the story is better IMO. As a movie, maybe not. That's not on Terry Davis of course. It's written in 1979, so keep that in mind. A classic coming-of-age story about, of all things, wrestling! Enjoy.
March 23, 2018
Not my usual kind of novel, but the movie with Matthew Modine intrigued me. I think I read it in the 90s. It is written in a very up close and personal tone with lots of reference to inner strength and determination. I liked the love story.
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