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The Death of Tarpons
Middle-aged, and in poor health, widower and grandfather Corey takes a solo trip home to Freeport, the Texan town he grew up in. But that trip turns out to represent much more than a poignant journey for old times’ sake.
With memories of his childhood prompted by the familiar Texan landscape, Corey narrates the story of the 1950s summer that changed his life forever. Dismissed and beaten by a frustrated and violent father and effectively abandoned by an emotionally fragile and obsessively religious mother, the teenage Corey turns to his grandfather for comfort.
Then his grandfather is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
As events unfold, it becomes clear that this is just one of several life-changing events to happen to Corey that summer. His parents’ marriage falls apart, his mother’s mental health declines and his father becomes increasingly angry, as a beloved father and grandfather slides towards death.
Meanwhile, Corey’s best friend lives locally in a violent and dysfunctional household, until the ultimate tragedy strikes and Destin is whisked away to live with relatives. Faced with the loss of his closest friend and imminent loss of his grandfather, Cory focuses his attention on a very special project, a present for his father. A present intended to win his father’s love.
But it doesn’t.
And Corey’s good intentions vanish into violence…
And that is when, strengthened by the wise counsel of his dying grandfather, Corey realizes that it is time to be his own person.
The Death of Tarpons is a coming-of-age tale as the adult Corey recalls his past and sees with new clarity the issues surrounding love, parenthood, family and death which he must deal with.
***
“Edgerton’s first novel shines with wisdom.” —Publishers Weekly
“Throughout this exceptional first novel, Edgerton uses fishing as an extended metaphor for life. Like a hooked tarpon that first lurks on the bottom before leaping high out of the water, life’s lows are followed by highs, and the successful angler must learn to cope with both extremes. Highly recommended for public libraries and for academic libraries supporting writing programs.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
“It is painful to witness cruelty and intentional rejection, behaviors that dominate this story of a desperate, hopeful search for fatherly love by 14-year-old Corey. Edgerton’s skillful writing and characterizations invite the reader to share Corey’s horrors and hopes, to try to understand unreasonable motives, to care about the outcome.” —Austin American-Statesman
“Les Edgerton of Fort Wayne has created a Father’s Day present that should be required reading for every American reader who ever had a father, who ever was a father or who plans eventually to be a father. The Death of Tarpons is much more than a fish story, more even than an investigation about how and why boys grow—or don’t grow—into good men. […] While this book deals with violence and cruelty, it is ultimately a definition of gentleness and love. It is a good story; it is a good book.” —The Indianapolis Star (Starred Review)
“A coming-of-age tale set on the Texas Gulf Coast, Edgerton’s novel bravely handles a boy growing up in his fourteenth summer. Loving grandparents aid Corey’s quest to please a father incapable of love, and his protection of a mother seeking solace in religious fundamentalism. …this first novel reflects equally the author’s respectable effort at expression, and its protagonist’s expressive struggle. Big on heart.
With memories of his childhood prompted by the familiar Texan landscape, Corey narrates the story of the 1950s summer that changed his life forever. Dismissed and beaten by a frustrated and violent father and effectively abandoned by an emotionally fragile and obsessively religious mother, the teenage Corey turns to his grandfather for comfort.
Then his grandfather is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
As events unfold, it becomes clear that this is just one of several life-changing events to happen to Corey that summer. His parents’ marriage falls apart, his mother’s mental health declines and his father becomes increasingly angry, as a beloved father and grandfather slides towards death.
Meanwhile, Corey’s best friend lives locally in a violent and dysfunctional household, until the ultimate tragedy strikes and Destin is whisked away to live with relatives. Faced with the loss of his closest friend and imminent loss of his grandfather, Cory focuses his attention on a very special project, a present for his father. A present intended to win his father’s love.
But it doesn’t.
And Corey’s good intentions vanish into violence…
And that is when, strengthened by the wise counsel of his dying grandfather, Corey realizes that it is time to be his own person.
The Death of Tarpons is a coming-of-age tale as the adult Corey recalls his past and sees with new clarity the issues surrounding love, parenthood, family and death which he must deal with.
***
“Edgerton’s first novel shines with wisdom.” —Publishers Weekly
“Throughout this exceptional first novel, Edgerton uses fishing as an extended metaphor for life. Like a hooked tarpon that first lurks on the bottom before leaping high out of the water, life’s lows are followed by highs, and the successful angler must learn to cope with both extremes. Highly recommended for public libraries and for academic libraries supporting writing programs.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
“It is painful to witness cruelty and intentional rejection, behaviors that dominate this story of a desperate, hopeful search for fatherly love by 14-year-old Corey. Edgerton’s skillful writing and characterizations invite the reader to share Corey’s horrors and hopes, to try to understand unreasonable motives, to care about the outcome.” —Austin American-Statesman
“Les Edgerton of Fort Wayne has created a Father’s Day present that should be required reading for every American reader who ever had a father, who ever was a father or who plans eventually to be a father. The Death of Tarpons is much more than a fish story, more even than an investigation about how and why boys grow—or don’t grow—into good men. […] While this book deals with violence and cruelty, it is ultimately a definition of gentleness and love. It is a good story; it is a good book.” —The Indianapolis Star (Starred Review)
“A coming-of-age tale set on the Texas Gulf Coast, Edgerton’s novel bravely handles a boy growing up in his fourteenth summer. Loving grandparents aid Corey’s quest to please a father incapable of love, and his protection of a mother seeking solace in religious fundamentalism. …this first novel reflects equally the author’s respectable effort at expression, and its protagonist’s expressive struggle. Big on heart.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2019
9 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 11, 2016
The Death of Tarpons by Les Edgerton is a coming-of-age book set in Freeport, Texas in 1955. It tells the story of Corey John, who, on facing his own death, returns to his hometown and recounts the harrowing days of a pivotal summer in his life when he was fourteen years of age. I read this story in one four-hour sitting, and, as a fan of Mark Twain, found it absurdly enjoyable for the similar tone and styles Edgerton employs. The voice is almost autobiographical, and the prose is evocative and rich without ever being stilted. The story itself appears simple at first, but the minute I read a few pages I was drawn in by the character of young Corey and the world and times of the setting.
Corey John lives in a house where his mother is slowly losing her mind to religion and his father physically abuses him. Despite this, Corey is desperate for his father’s love, and dreams of doing anything to become the man his father wishes he were. There’s such an obvious mismatch between father and son, and the conflict that arises from this is both brutal and painful to read. Every time the young boy attempts to please his father something happens to drive them further apart, and the violence that erupts is vicious at times. Even though the logic and worlds of Corey and his father are completely incompatible, you always have this hankering for them to unite. This constant push-and-pull created a tug of war in my head. The way Edgerton wrote this, I couldn’t help but side with both the kid and dad at various times, and as such it made for an uncomfortable read. But this is no negative. Certainly not. It is what makes it so sweet. The story pulls no punches, showing parents and kids as real people with a bit of good and bad in them and all the bits in between. Edgerton presents the world as it is without any of that saccharin sweetness that seems to pervade literature and film these days.
The structure of the book is also worth noting. The first and last chapters are set in present day, book-ending the main story-line to create a very satisfying conclusion. By setting the book up in this manner, the tale of fourteen-year-old Corey appears to be no more than a fleeting thought in the older man’s mind. And yet we get to spend time in Freeport with the Texas sun and Jax Beer and Corey and his friend Destin and their maid Inez and it all feels wonderfully real.
In the end, The Death of Tarpons is about a boy on the cusp of manhood, finding redemption and strength in himself amidst a world full of violence and good. It may be set in older times, but it’s relevance is timeless. For all these reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to all.
Corey John lives in a house where his mother is slowly losing her mind to religion and his father physically abuses him. Despite this, Corey is desperate for his father’s love, and dreams of doing anything to become the man his father wishes he were. There’s such an obvious mismatch between father and son, and the conflict that arises from this is both brutal and painful to read. Every time the young boy attempts to please his father something happens to drive them further apart, and the violence that erupts is vicious at times. Even though the logic and worlds of Corey and his father are completely incompatible, you always have this hankering for them to unite. This constant push-and-pull created a tug of war in my head. The way Edgerton wrote this, I couldn’t help but side with both the kid and dad at various times, and as such it made for an uncomfortable read. But this is no negative. Certainly not. It is what makes it so sweet. The story pulls no punches, showing parents and kids as real people with a bit of good and bad in them and all the bits in between. Edgerton presents the world as it is without any of that saccharin sweetness that seems to pervade literature and film these days.
The structure of the book is also worth noting. The first and last chapters are set in present day, book-ending the main story-line to create a very satisfying conclusion. By setting the book up in this manner, the tale of fourteen-year-old Corey appears to be no more than a fleeting thought in the older man’s mind. And yet we get to spend time in Freeport with the Texas sun and Jax Beer and Corey and his friend Destin and their maid Inez and it all feels wonderfully real.
In the end, The Death of Tarpons is about a boy on the cusp of manhood, finding redemption and strength in himself amidst a world full of violence and good. It may be set in older times, but it’s relevance is timeless. For all these reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to all.
March 31, 2020
Les Edgerton’s The Death of Tarpons is a cracking coming-of-age drama set in 1950s Texas. Bookended by the main character in old age it tells of his boyhood summer where not much happens except friendship, family, and fishing – upended by the occasional vicious beating by his dad when he transgresses the old man’s strict moral code.
At its calmest it’s the kind of story you can read with a stalk of grass in your mouth and float on the current, but the threat of violence never really lets you settle. And when it comes you’ll wince, and you’ll be angry. Angry at the dad and angry at the protagonist, Corey, angry at his mum for slipping into her Bible.
Edgerton does a brilliant job at showing Corey’s motivation and why he takes it. Takes the edge off that anger and turns you soft with him as he gets back into the swing of things with his best friend, Destin, and his grandpa, Corey’s biggest influence. And by the time you get to the end …
It’s the first book I’ve read by Edgerton, though I’ve been aware if him for a long time. I need to push on and read his other stuff, because this was great.
At its calmest it’s the kind of story you can read with a stalk of grass in your mouth and float on the current, but the threat of violence never really lets you settle. And when it comes you’ll wince, and you’ll be angry. Angry at the dad and angry at the protagonist, Corey, angry at his mum for slipping into her Bible.
Edgerton does a brilliant job at showing Corey’s motivation and why he takes it. Takes the edge off that anger and turns you soft with him as he gets back into the swing of things with his best friend, Destin, and his grandpa, Corey’s biggest influence. And by the time you get to the end …
It’s the first book I’ve read by Edgerton, though I’ve been aware if him for a long time. I need to push on and read his other stuff, because this was great.
March 17, 2017
This book written from the viewpoint of a 14 year old boy who later returns to his home town is a mixture of Sad, Happy, Mad, Glad. It contains much symbolism and some very strong likeable and unlikeable characters. A very good read, I recommend it to all.
July 3, 2020
The best coming of age book I've ever read. Intelligent, real, moving and enlightening. The kind of book that I know will stay with me like a memory long after the fact. Superb.
April 17, 2022
Depressing
Well written, but the author starts giving you the last scene of the boat building numerous times through the book. I thought it was overdone and unnecessary.
It is a depressing story, with little to give you hope for the main character, either as a teen getting beaten by his father, or as a grandfather, who has cancer, like his own grandfather had.
The sister is mentioned several times, but by having been a part of this very dysfunctional family, should have either been developed further or not in the story at all.
Well written, but the author starts giving you the last scene of the boat building numerous times through the book. I thought it was overdone and unnecessary.
It is a depressing story, with little to give you hope for the main character, either as a teen getting beaten by his father, or as a grandfather, who has cancer, like his own grandfather had.
The sister is mentioned several times, but by having been a part of this very dysfunctional family, should have either been developed further or not in the story at all.
January 14, 2017
Life lessons
This was a book about growing up and that not everyone who should love you does and to focus on those who do.Great book with wisdom to think about long after I finished .Best story I have read in a long time.
This was a book about growing up and that not everyone who should love you does and to focus on those who do.Great book with wisdom to think about long after I finished .Best story I have read in a long time.
December 21, 2016
Extremely well paced tale of troubled families and how it is possible to move beyond them. Good strong characters fill a tale of postwar America and the unrest within a family. The voice of the narrator speaking from the distance of time provides a warmth to the telling which makes reading compelling story from the outset. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews