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Tall Corn State: An Iowa Story
Among Actualist poets and vegetarian restaurant/bakery workers, there isn't much serious crime, but there's plenty in the college town around them. This novel puts you in 1975, when Iowa City was home to several movements at the same time, and when that guy with the pitchfork in American Gothic gave everybody a hard look because of all the things they were doing.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 20, 2021
A semi-biographical tale about Thomas's wayward hitchinking landing him in Iowa City where he just sort of stayed thanks to a pretty girl who stole his heart and a poet that sparked a mystery.
Why did Ana step out in traffic just to be hit by a car and killed?
A story about living in Iowa City in the 1970s. If you like stories with atmosphere, a big dose of reality, and the intricacies of relationships, then this is a story for you.
A slow burn that pulls you in with Levant's skillful prose.
Woven around the mystery of Ana's death and whether or not the married man with her was responsible is the daily life of a young aspiring writer/hitchhiker who is struggling to find his place in the world.
If this sounds like you're type of book, you won't be disappointed.
Why did Ana step out in traffic just to be hit by a car and killed?
A story about living in Iowa City in the 1970s. If you like stories with atmosphere, a big dose of reality, and the intricacies of relationships, then this is a story for you.
A slow burn that pulls you in with Levant's skillful prose.
Woven around the mystery of Ana's death and whether or not the married man with her was responsible is the daily life of a young aspiring writer/hitchhiker who is struggling to find his place in the world.
If this sounds like you're type of book, you won't be disappointed.
July 10, 2023
My review of Thomas Leverett's, Tall Corn State. How nostalgic. The hippie world of 1975. I was expecting a mystery/crime story. It was nothing of the kind. It was a wonderful walk down memory lane of the art scene--storytelling, poetry readings, drugs, hitchhiking, and friendships of an era long gone. There weren't even cell phones. Can you imagine? Leverett's style was simple, engaging, and perfect for this tale. Well done. Very well done Thomas Leverett. A well-deserved 5 stars.
March 28, 2021
The author just holds our hand and walks through laid-back Iowa city. Slowly a mystery about a girl's death is revealed. The words are woven such brilliantly that you feel like you are actually there with the characters, watching it. All the complexities of the characters like Adele and the narrator are written beautifully. It is a wonderful story. I enjoyed it.
October 11, 2021
Life and love in the 70s through the eyes of a traveler who decides to stick around in Iowa for a while. This is a semi-autobiographical novel that's a little light on plot, but the voice is so engaging and authentic that I hardly noticed.
August 17, 2021
I found myself completely captivated by Tall Corn State: An Iowa Story. The author has published books of poetry and his thoughtfulness about words was evident on every page. From the opening lines which quickly establish the mood and world of the story to the final concluding poem, author Leverett skillfully creates a vibrant, fascinating portrait of a disappeared time and place.
The story of a young man in the mid-seventies who is tiring of the hitch-hiking life and comes to settle in Iowa City is atmospheric and rich. In my writing life, I have met many authors who spent time at the Iowa Writers Workshop. It was fascinating to get a peek at what that must have been like in the 1970s. Poetry is a constant in this book, whether the author’s gift for finding the precise words to illuminate feelings and moments or the actual discussion of the differences between those poets studying at the Workshop or another group of poets, the Actualists.
I was charmed by some of the stories of the Actualist poets, who seem the complete antithesis of the Workshop poets with their intensive academic discussions of writing. The Actualists seem to make the creation of poetry a poem in and of itself. Dramatic and performative, these poets spontaneously created their work in the moment. There is a lovely line, “And here I was, scrawling this poem on a napkin, where it seemed most Actualist poems started out.” It caught the essence of that moment of serendipitous creation. I was captivated by the story of an Actualist poet sitting on the roof of a building with a typewriter, composing a poem until the paper was long enough that it touched the ground below.
There are many curious questions and mysteries to unravel inside the pages of Tall Corn State, such as a child’s paternity, the whereabouts of a Stradivarius violin, the disappearance of a mural, and the secrets behind a young woman’s tragic death. Just spending time in this unique place at this precise time is a joy to the reader. I know very little about Iowa other than the Writers Workshop. It was fascinating to see how the Workshop and the college co-exist with the agricultural community.
At times the book reminded me of Jane Smiley, not only for the echoes of Moo U, but because both Leverett and Smiley have a felicitous eye for finding just the right detail to illuminate a moment. Leverett’s book also reminded me of some of T. Coraghessan Boyle’s novels that deal with the sixties and seventies counterculture. Leverett, like Boyle, skillfully plays with issues of class divides and opens a door to the small, intimate details of life that bring the reader close to characters. Despite these comparisons, the author has his own strong, unique voice, and I look forward to reading more of his novels.
For an inside look at the counterculture, the hitch-hiking life, the Writers Workshop and writing communities of Iowa City in the seventies, and just some good plain reading, try Tall Corn State. I think you’ll love it.
The story of a young man in the mid-seventies who is tiring of the hitch-hiking life and comes to settle in Iowa City is atmospheric and rich. In my writing life, I have met many authors who spent time at the Iowa Writers Workshop. It was fascinating to get a peek at what that must have been like in the 1970s. Poetry is a constant in this book, whether the author’s gift for finding the precise words to illuminate feelings and moments or the actual discussion of the differences between those poets studying at the Workshop or another group of poets, the Actualists.
I was charmed by some of the stories of the Actualist poets, who seem the complete antithesis of the Workshop poets with their intensive academic discussions of writing. The Actualists seem to make the creation of poetry a poem in and of itself. Dramatic and performative, these poets spontaneously created their work in the moment. There is a lovely line, “And here I was, scrawling this poem on a napkin, where it seemed most Actualist poems started out.” It caught the essence of that moment of serendipitous creation. I was captivated by the story of an Actualist poet sitting on the roof of a building with a typewriter, composing a poem until the paper was long enough that it touched the ground below.
There are many curious questions and mysteries to unravel inside the pages of Tall Corn State, such as a child’s paternity, the whereabouts of a Stradivarius violin, the disappearance of a mural, and the secrets behind a young woman’s tragic death. Just spending time in this unique place at this precise time is a joy to the reader. I know very little about Iowa other than the Writers Workshop. It was fascinating to see how the Workshop and the college co-exist with the agricultural community.
At times the book reminded me of Jane Smiley, not only for the echoes of Moo U, but because both Leverett and Smiley have a felicitous eye for finding just the right detail to illuminate a moment. Leverett’s book also reminded me of some of T. Coraghessan Boyle’s novels that deal with the sixties and seventies counterculture. Leverett, like Boyle, skillfully plays with issues of class divides and opens a door to the small, intimate details of life that bring the reader close to characters. Despite these comparisons, the author has his own strong, unique voice, and I look forward to reading more of his novels.
For an inside look at the counterculture, the hitch-hiking life, the Writers Workshop and writing communities of Iowa City in the seventies, and just some good plain reading, try Tall Corn State. I think you’ll love it.
February 12, 2022
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Tall Corn State
Subtitle: An Iowa Story
Author: Thomas Leverett
Genre: Fiction
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
A young man spends his life hiking around the country until he settles in Iowa and enrols into university to please his parents. His student days are short-lived, and he spends his time with like-minded people, working in a cooperative.
What I liked about the book:
It was a nice story with character. Although confusing in places, that was partly the charm of the book.
What I didn’t like about the book:
The book was enjoyable in its entirety.
My favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the book.
My least favourite bits in the book:
The book was confusing in places.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
I’m not aware of any other books by this author.
What books could this be compared to and why?
I haven’t read any similar books so far.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Perhaps not
Adult Yes
If you like laid back action, this book may be the book for you.
Book Description by Author:
Among Actualist poets and vegetarian restaurant/bakery workers, there isn't much serious crime, but there's plenty in the college town around them. This novel puts you in 1975, when Iowa City was home to several movements at the same time, and when that guy with the pitchfork in American Gothic gave everybody a hard look because of all the things they were doing.
About the Author:
Thomas Leverett's writing is influenced partly by a 48-state, 4-country hitchhiking journey, and partly by a 30-year career as a university ESL teacher. The e pluribus haiku poetry series reflects intimate knowledge of every corner of the US, while his short stories focus on the nature of people and their failings. He is now working on a novel, and his stories are being made into audiobooks.
Basic Details:
Book Title: Tall Corn State
Subtitle: An Iowa Story
Author: Thomas Leverett
Genre: Fiction
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
A young man spends his life hiking around the country until he settles in Iowa and enrols into university to please his parents. His student days are short-lived, and he spends his time with like-minded people, working in a cooperative.
What I liked about the book:
It was a nice story with character. Although confusing in places, that was partly the charm of the book.
What I didn’t like about the book:
The book was enjoyable in its entirety.
My favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the book.
My least favourite bits in the book:
The book was confusing in places.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
I’m not aware of any other books by this author.
What books could this be compared to and why?
I haven’t read any similar books so far.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Perhaps not
Adult Yes
If you like laid back action, this book may be the book for you.
Book Description by Author:
Among Actualist poets and vegetarian restaurant/bakery workers, there isn't much serious crime, but there's plenty in the college town around them. This novel puts you in 1975, when Iowa City was home to several movements at the same time, and when that guy with the pitchfork in American Gothic gave everybody a hard look because of all the things they were doing.
About the Author:
Thomas Leverett's writing is influenced partly by a 48-state, 4-country hitchhiking journey, and partly by a 30-year career as a university ESL teacher. The e pluribus haiku poetry series reflects intimate knowledge of every corner of the US, while his short stories focus on the nature of people and their failings. He is now working on a novel, and his stories are being made into audiobooks.
November 11, 2021
Book Analysis – Tall Corn State by Thomas Leverett
This book was an amazing twist to what I normally go for in a read. Set in 1975 in Iowa City, the setting itself interested me enough to keep reading because I have never read anything with this scenic display. With a combination of poets and cooks, the whole story had me intrigued! What really set off my interest, however, were all of these laid back factors of the story intertwined with the plot of a crime! Yes, you heard right, this is a crime novel that supports the coming-of-age concept, all while keeping the tempo of a slow burn novel.
From the death of a girl, to the complexity that situation surfaced, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time all while feeling comfortable and cozy. Did the girl have a plan, was it an accident? So many questions and room for inference for the reader, I appreciate the author’s writing style greatly. Alongside the mystery and suspense, the author wove in ideas and detail of vegetarianism, poetry, and actualism, which enhanced the autobiography aspect of the book.
Having this be an autobiography based on real life experience with mixed in element of fictional scenes, the overall story was able to be conducted in such a way to make the reader feel as if they were sitting with the author along the whole story. The description and the narration were so well thought out and perceived, it is clear through the precise word choice and illustrated details.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes to think while they read, who likes to travel while they read, and to anyone looking for a solid and quick story to broaden their horizons on the world around them. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, it does not disappoint!
This book was an amazing twist to what I normally go for in a read. Set in 1975 in Iowa City, the setting itself interested me enough to keep reading because I have never read anything with this scenic display. With a combination of poets and cooks, the whole story had me intrigued! What really set off my interest, however, were all of these laid back factors of the story intertwined with the plot of a crime! Yes, you heard right, this is a crime novel that supports the coming-of-age concept, all while keeping the tempo of a slow burn novel.
From the death of a girl, to the complexity that situation surfaced, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time all while feeling comfortable and cozy. Did the girl have a plan, was it an accident? So many questions and room for inference for the reader, I appreciate the author’s writing style greatly. Alongside the mystery and suspense, the author wove in ideas and detail of vegetarianism, poetry, and actualism, which enhanced the autobiography aspect of the book.
Having this be an autobiography based on real life experience with mixed in element of fictional scenes, the overall story was able to be conducted in such a way to make the reader feel as if they were sitting with the author along the whole story. The description and the narration were so well thought out and perceived, it is clear through the precise word choice and illustrated details.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes to think while they read, who likes to travel while they read, and to anyone looking for a solid and quick story to broaden their horizons on the world around them. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, it does not disappoint!
August 2, 2021
A unique and breath-taking autobiographical novel by acclaimed author Thomas Leverett. I just love how the author started the novel with an open loop and drove my brain to seek out some sort of conclusion. The death of Ana in an accident remained unsolved till the end. Was it deliberate? Did Frank push her? Did she jump because Frank put his arm around her? Did the car driver know her? Did the corn have a role?
Leverett enticed me with details of Actualism, poetry, and vegetarianism in Iowa City in the mid-seventies. He also piqued my interest with stories of the white buffalo murals and the pitchfork-holding farmer who would look straight at you, if he disapproved of whatever you thought or did.
Leverett's hitchhiking life before settling down in Iowa City grabbed my attention. I have always wanted to experience this lifestyle.
There is much much more in the Tall Corn State: An Iowa Story that would take you on an exciting journey through the different states that Leverett had been to.
I highly recommend this novel. It's worth both my time and money.
Leverett enticed me with details of Actualism, poetry, and vegetarianism in Iowa City in the mid-seventies. He also piqued my interest with stories of the white buffalo murals and the pitchfork-holding farmer who would look straight at you, if he disapproved of whatever you thought or did.
Leverett's hitchhiking life before settling down in Iowa City grabbed my attention. I have always wanted to experience this lifestyle.
There is much much more in the Tall Corn State: An Iowa Story that would take you on an exciting journey through the different states that Leverett had been to.
I highly recommend this novel. It's worth both my time and money.
May 27, 2022
The author's personal reminiscences about Iowa. He tells us early on that not all of it is true and what is true is down to the accuracy of his memory and there are instances (walking out onto a stage) that as you read, you believe are made up and then find, by his qualification, that they are true. On the memory thing, I personally remember two old friends getting in touch, after thirty years, sitting around to reminisce and coming up with three completely different versions of events. So let's say this book is the way the author remembers things.
For me the whole book was worth reading, if only for the author's description of the differences between a violin and a fiddle.
This book all happened in the 70s, the early 70s and gives a good indication of how life was at that time. I found it fascinating, drew parallels with my own life, drew out instances of how things have changed and the book made me think from page one onwards. There is, as well as the reminiscences, a mystery to solve.
For me the whole book was worth reading, if only for the author's description of the differences between a violin and a fiddle.
This book all happened in the 70s, the early 70s and gives a good indication of how life was at that time. I found it fascinating, drew parallels with my own life, drew out instances of how things have changed and the book made me think from page one onwards. There is, as well as the reminiscences, a mystery to solve.
May 4, 2024
What Happened to Ana?
This book wears several hats. We have 70s nostalgia, US culture, a fly-on-the-wall slice of life, poetry, coming of age, travel, and a couple of mysteries. The book centres around a group of Actualist poets, and the first-person main character who entangles himself in a mystery. Leverette takes us to a time when cultural movements collided in a University city in Iowa laced with creativity and activism.
The novel's strength lies in the author’s ability to capture the essence of the era. His people are vibrant, alive, and we watch our hero grow from a pot-smoking boy to a man. I loved the travel elements as he jumps trains in true box-car Willie, hobo, style. Through vivid prose and well-drawn characters, he immerses us in a world where every street corner has a secret. How does that small patch of corn survive year on year in the centre of the city? And where did the white Buffalo go? This is quite a high-brow book, written around a group of poets, and Leverette's blend of historical detail and literary flair makes for a compelling read. There are some lovely character-written one-stanza poems and haiku which add a nice inclusion to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
However, the big question running through the book is …What happened to Ana?
This book wears several hats. We have 70s nostalgia, US culture, a fly-on-the-wall slice of life, poetry, coming of age, travel, and a couple of mysteries. The book centres around a group of Actualist poets, and the first-person main character who entangles himself in a mystery. Leverette takes us to a time when cultural movements collided in a University city in Iowa laced with creativity and activism.
The novel's strength lies in the author’s ability to capture the essence of the era. His people are vibrant, alive, and we watch our hero grow from a pot-smoking boy to a man. I loved the travel elements as he jumps trains in true box-car Willie, hobo, style. Through vivid prose and well-drawn characters, he immerses us in a world where every street corner has a secret. How does that small patch of corn survive year on year in the centre of the city? And where did the white Buffalo go? This is quite a high-brow book, written around a group of poets, and Leverette's blend of historical detail and literary flair makes for a compelling read. There are some lovely character-written one-stanza poems and haiku which add a nice inclusion to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
However, the big question running through the book is …What happened to Ana?
June 14, 2021
A stroll through another’s memory.
I had actually never even heard of Actualists before reading this book, nor have I ever been to Iowa. However, this book was like a road trip packed into a time machine, back before life was quite so chaotic and busy to simpler (if not-so-innocent) times, with a mysterious death, a passionate affair, a stolen guitar, and a young writer just trying to get through life one day at a time. Mr. Leverett acts as a tour guide through life in 1970s Iowa City as events slowly unfurl like a blooming flower in springtime. One moment that stuck out to me specifically is when train hopping was involved. I guess because I always wondered what it would be like to hop on a train and ride it to wherever it was going, and getting to live it second hand through the narrative was a pleasant experience. If you enjoy slow burns, atmosphere, poetry, petty crime, and mysteries, you'll enjoy this nice, leisurely read.
I had actually never even heard of Actualists before reading this book, nor have I ever been to Iowa. However, this book was like a road trip packed into a time machine, back before life was quite so chaotic and busy to simpler (if not-so-innocent) times, with a mysterious death, a passionate affair, a stolen guitar, and a young writer just trying to get through life one day at a time. Mr. Leverett acts as a tour guide through life in 1970s Iowa City as events slowly unfurl like a blooming flower in springtime. One moment that stuck out to me specifically is when train hopping was involved. I guess because I always wondered what it would be like to hop on a train and ride it to wherever it was going, and getting to live it second hand through the narrative was a pleasant experience. If you enjoy slow burns, atmosphere, poetry, petty crime, and mysteries, you'll enjoy this nice, leisurely read.
April 25, 2021
If you’re looking for contrived stories of crime and a whodunnit to work out, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a beautifully-told look-back to 1975, based mainly around Iowa City. It’s a tale of travel and arrival, of the life of hippies and vegetarian restaurants at that time, the author’s experiences of life and love and lasagne, the everyday and every-night goings-on of the scene of poets and musicians plus crime at both blue- and white-collar levels.
It’s narrated in a straightforward manner, the impressions of a young man come to be a student but instead cleaning up and eventually cooking by day whilst burning the night oil interacting with other laid-back friends and acquaintances. I was filled with nostalgia for my own kaftan and buffalo-hide sandal days; I wanted to be there.
Just as Stradivarius can be a fiddle, good literature can be simple in style.
It’s narrated in a straightforward manner, the impressions of a young man come to be a student but instead cleaning up and eventually cooking by day whilst burning the night oil interacting with other laid-back friends and acquaintances. I was filled with nostalgia for my own kaftan and buffalo-hide sandal days; I wanted to be there.
Just as Stradivarius can be a fiddle, good literature can be simple in style.
August 17, 2021
Great description of the times gone by.
For three days, while reading this novel, it felt as I am stuck on a slow-moving train with a fellow passenger who wouldn't shut up in telling me his life story; in the end, I am glad he didn't.
I enjoy the opportunity to learn about a traveling drifter - a young man with no attachments and ready to go anywhere at the moment's notice. The long gallery of his friends, the people he met, and even fell in love with; I liked reading about their lives, little problems, and tragic endings. At times, I felt as I was reading the Forest Gump without the box of chocolates staged in a small town in Iowa.
One more example of how the lives of ordinary people can be interested if presented right.
I would recommend this book to any thoughtful reader.
For three days, while reading this novel, it felt as I am stuck on a slow-moving train with a fellow passenger who wouldn't shut up in telling me his life story; in the end, I am glad he didn't.
I enjoy the opportunity to learn about a traveling drifter - a young man with no attachments and ready to go anywhere at the moment's notice. The long gallery of his friends, the people he met, and even fell in love with; I liked reading about their lives, little problems, and tragic endings. At times, I felt as I was reading the Forest Gump without the box of chocolates staged in a small town in Iowa.
One more example of how the lives of ordinary people can be interested if presented right.
I would recommend this book to any thoughtful reader.
November 9, 2021
Corn State Story.
Found on KU. This is a captivating story. Set in the 1970s and centered around Iowa, this is a semi-autobiographical novel and part whodunit, where the mystery of girl’s death is slowly revealed. This is not entirely a whodunit, it’s more about the author’s experience and the lifestyle he chose having come back to his small town in Iowa to continue his studies, having travelled widely and unable to settle, finds instead, an outlet in the people he encounters. Acutalists poets, vegetarianism in the heart of beef eating country, his loves and dreams are all explored. The writing is consummate and things slowly unwinds under Leverett’s prose. This is the second book I have read from this author, and neither has disappointed.
Found on KU. This is a captivating story. Set in the 1970s and centered around Iowa, this is a semi-autobiographical novel and part whodunit, where the mystery of girl’s death is slowly revealed. This is not entirely a whodunit, it’s more about the author’s experience and the lifestyle he chose having come back to his small town in Iowa to continue his studies, having travelled widely and unable to settle, finds instead, an outlet in the people he encounters. Acutalists poets, vegetarianism in the heart of beef eating country, his loves and dreams are all explored. The writing is consummate and things slowly unwinds under Leverett’s prose. This is the second book I have read from this author, and neither has disappointed.
July 13, 2021
Such a unique story
I throughly enjoyed reading this story, which is based in a city I know rather well. It was very interesting to read the perspective of another, from a time period slightly before my own. The author is very open about his lifestyle and choices which brings a refreshing and honest outlook on his life and those around him. There are a lot of characters to follow along with but everything about the story flows along nicely. I was saddened to read the ending, where all of the facts are somewhat coming together and then tragedy hits. This is definitely recommended!
I throughly enjoyed reading this story, which is based in a city I know rather well. It was very interesting to read the perspective of another, from a time period slightly before my own. The author is very open about his lifestyle and choices which brings a refreshing and honest outlook on his life and those around him. There are a lot of characters to follow along with but everything about the story flows along nicely. I was saddened to read the ending, where all of the facts are somewhat coming together and then tragedy hits. This is definitely recommended!
August 16, 2021
Sometimes the worst crimes go unnoticed
Thomas Leverett's style of writing was very refreshing to read, his sentence structure flawless, and the story, though according to him only partly true, was an interesting example of life in the mid seventies. His careful rendering of hippie lifestyle sounded factual enough that it was very believable and his matter of fact handling of the pesticide problem makes me almost believe that his friend was responsible for the discovery.
I recommend Tall Corn State and hope Mr. Cleverest continues writing such wonderful novels.
Thomas Leverett's style of writing was very refreshing to read, his sentence structure flawless, and the story, though according to him only partly true, was an interesting example of life in the mid seventies. His careful rendering of hippie lifestyle sounded factual enough that it was very believable and his matter of fact handling of the pesticide problem makes me almost believe that his friend was responsible for the discovery.
I recommend Tall Corn State and hope Mr. Cleverest continues writing such wonderful novels.
September 23, 2021
Well written and entertaining
This book is slow paced, but interesting and very well written. The author's writing style kind of reminded me of Herman Melville (the author of Moby Dick). Set in the 70's, a young man who lived life on the road settles down in Iowa. The slow pace of the story fits perfectly with how you would picture life in the corn state. You can really hear the author's voice as he tells his partially true story about life in Iowa in the 70's. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a clean entertaining read where the author has a great voice.
This book is slow paced, but interesting and very well written. The author's writing style kind of reminded me of Herman Melville (the author of Moby Dick). Set in the 70's, a young man who lived life on the road settles down in Iowa. The slow pace of the story fits perfectly with how you would picture life in the corn state. You can really hear the author's voice as he tells his partially true story about life in Iowa in the 70's. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a clean entertaining read where the author has a great voice.
October 12, 2021
Life back then
This is a dreamer looking back on his younger life. It's skillfully told as if he is sitting with a beer telling his friends or perhaps his kids about his youth, before mobile phones, when crime was shocking because it wasn't commonplace. Its a naive young man figuring out his place in life, trying to make sense of the conflict between the old world and the new as life changed in the 70s. A brilliant insight into small town life. This isn't a tale driven by plot, but peopled with characters you will remember.
This is a dreamer looking back on his younger life. It's skillfully told as if he is sitting with a beer telling his friends or perhaps his kids about his youth, before mobile phones, when crime was shocking because it wasn't commonplace. Its a naive young man figuring out his place in life, trying to make sense of the conflict between the old world and the new as life changed in the 70s. A brilliant insight into small town life. This isn't a tale driven by plot, but peopled with characters you will remember.
November 4, 2021
Interesting characters
While reading the story, I kept visualizing a grandfather swaying on a porch swing as he retold stories about his younger years.
Thomas crossed paths with some interesting characters: Over the Rainbow and Harry the Hobo. Thomas spoke often about Actualist and their convention. I never heard of the gathering before so I read up on it. It's always nice to learn something new.😁
While the overall pace of the story was slow, I did find Thomas's journey entertaining.
While reading the story, I kept visualizing a grandfather swaying on a porch swing as he retold stories about his younger years.
Thomas crossed paths with some interesting characters: Over the Rainbow and Harry the Hobo. Thomas spoke often about Actualist and their convention. I never heard of the gathering before so I read up on it. It's always nice to learn something new.😁
While the overall pace of the story was slow, I did find Thomas's journey entertaining.
January 11, 2022
The Past Will Always be the Past
It is always one's hope to relive the past when things were great and simple. However the things of the past always seem to change in the future.
A great walk through time for the author but soon sees that things had changed, some for the better and some for the worse. I enjoyed learning about the author's past and his day to day Trek around the country. However, the book lost my interest several times as there was not enough excitement to hold my interest.
Need to pick up the pace more as it dragged some through out the story.
It is always one's hope to relive the past when things were great and simple. However the things of the past always seem to change in the future.
A great walk through time for the author but soon sees that things had changed, some for the better and some for the worse. I enjoyed learning about the author's past and his day to day Trek around the country. However, the book lost my interest several times as there was not enough excitement to hold my interest.
Need to pick up the pace more as it dragged some through out the story.
January 5, 2026
Thomas Leverett’s Tall Corn State is a work of literary fiction with semi-autobiographical elements. Set in Iowa City in the 1970s, the story revolves around coming-of-age experiences, exploration, and minor crime. Hitchhiking journeys, the atmosphere of a university town, Actualist poets, and alternative ways of living reveal the fragility beneath seemingly ordinary lives, while also conveying the spirit of the era and a sense of personal transformation. I believe adult readers who enjoy literary fiction that evokes the atmosphere of the 1970s will definitely appreciate this book.
March 25, 2021
A world of poets and purple guitars
I loved this story. The authors relaxed style of writing took me on a journey of nostalgia for the nineteen seventies. The bohemian lifestyle of vegetarian restaurants, poets and purple guitars. I could even hear the music of Jackson Brown and Eric Clapton even if they are never mentioned. It is a story of crime, not all crime is obvious. I love the idea of calling a Stradivarius a fiddle.
I loved this story. The authors relaxed style of writing took me on a journey of nostalgia for the nineteen seventies. The bohemian lifestyle of vegetarian restaurants, poets and purple guitars. I could even hear the music of Jackson Brown and Eric Clapton even if they are never mentioned. It is a story of crime, not all crime is obvious. I love the idea of calling a Stradivarius a fiddle.
August 3, 2021
Hitchikers guide to Iowa!
The story follows Thomas' adventures as he hitchikes to Iowa city in the mid 1970's and falls head over heels with a young girl there. The city has relatively low crime but when Ana is killed in a road traffic accident questions surrouding her death start to emerge. Was it suicide, was it murder, did she jump or was she pushed? Unique storyline, good book to read as it keeps your interest and focus from start to finish.
The story follows Thomas' adventures as he hitchikes to Iowa city in the mid 1970's and falls head over heels with a young girl there. The city has relatively low crime but when Ana is killed in a road traffic accident questions surrouding her death start to emerge. Was it suicide, was it murder, did she jump or was she pushed? Unique storyline, good book to read as it keeps your interest and focus from start to finish.
November 15, 2021
Tall Corn State: An Iowa Story
The author Thomas Leverett takes you on a guided journey through a small town in Iowa in the mid-seventies. Interested individuals, the college where a teacher conducts class in a local bar, drug use, to the women he cared for. It is a free-spirited look at the lifestyle that was synonymous back then. The author crafts a story delivered in a way almost like a conversation between two friends having a beer together.
The author Thomas Leverett takes you on a guided journey through a small town in Iowa in the mid-seventies. Interested individuals, the college where a teacher conducts class in a local bar, drug use, to the women he cared for. It is a free-spirited look at the lifestyle that was synonymous back then. The author crafts a story delivered in a way almost like a conversation between two friends having a beer together.
May 27, 2022
You can tell the story of Iowa. Never been there before, and I have always wondered about it. A guide to knowing what there is to know about the state. I love how it is based on the point of view of the author. His life living in Iowa. I have always loved books the point of view is the author. Also how it takes place in the 1970s. It makes me wonder how Iowa was during such a remembered time of the 20th century. It was easy to understand. Well done.
June 1, 2021
The book is a story that is well written and easy to read and looks very professional. I liked the writing style. We are taken on a journey through Iowa City with many twists and turns.
It was interesting to see how the author's journey turned out, and overall I would defiantly recommend reading Tall Corn State. 5 stars
It was interesting to see how the author's journey turned out, and overall I would defiantly recommend reading Tall Corn State. 5 stars
October 7, 2021
Loved it!
Part autobiographical, part mystery tale, the writing draws you in from the first paragraph. The tale has shades of "The Rules of Attraction" by Bret Easton Ellis, but is entirely more wholesome. Loved the fact it was set in 1975; the author paints a detailed landscape of how it was. One to read for definite.
Part autobiographical, part mystery tale, the writing draws you in from the first paragraph. The tale has shades of "The Rules of Attraction" by Bret Easton Ellis, but is entirely more wholesome. Loved the fact it was set in 1975; the author paints a detailed landscape of how it was. One to read for definite.
November 22, 2021
I was first drawn by the title of the book(Tall corn state) and it got my interest when I realized that it was written by a poet. This is a lovely biography of a poet. I felt as if I am on an endless journey with the author as he narrated how his journey start and also his stay in the university.
I would recommend this book to anyone and also to every lover of poetry
I would recommend this book to anyone and also to every lover of poetry
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2022
A captivating book
A unique story told by an elderly man reminiscing about his younger days in the 1970s. The story is gripping and the characters living in the small town are beautifully portrayed. Then there is the mystery about Ana’s death. Was it suicide or murder?
This book is a must-read!
A unique story told by an elderly man reminiscing about his younger days in the 1970s. The story is gripping and the characters living in the small town are beautifully portrayed. Then there is the mystery about Ana’s death. Was it suicide or murder?
This book is a must-read!
June 23, 2022
This is not just a story or as the author states, a crime novel, but has so many layers filled with history, culture, reminiscence, friendship, love, learning and growing. There were some parts I thought I had already read and I wasn't sure if the author was recapping or repeating but his writing style kept me on his journey from start to finish. A must-read.
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