The Obstacle Course

by J.F. Freedman

From the author of Against the Wind, a story of obstacles--on the track and in life--is the saga of a boy growing up in a tough blue-collar town on the Eastern shore of Maryland. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

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