The Fiery Pantheon : A Novel

by Nancy Lemann

Ever cognizant of her Southern roots, Grace Stewart finally deigns to marry true gentleman Monroe Collier, but when their engagement hits the rocks, she finds herself drawn to a brilliant yet crazy Wall Street securities analyst

Genres: Fiction, Southern

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

American novelist.

Reviews

[Elaine Robinson LaBar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really disliked this book. Could not see any point or plot to the story. Grace herself seems not to know what she wants in life, living mostly in the past. her mother is self-absorbed and arrogant, pretending to know what everyone else is about, the father a good natured oaf who indulges both his conceited wife and confused daughter. Monroe was completely absent from the story, and poor hapless Walter, jeez I don’t even know what to say about him. And the repetition drove me crazy! Have never read anything by Nancy Lemann before and am definitely unlikely to read anything else.

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Lemann’s writing, but I felt like this dragged on a bit. A really beautiful story about the love one feels for their home (in her case, New Orleans) but also the yearning for something different. Reminds me of that Townes van Zandt line from I’ll be here in the morning, “no prettier sight than looking back on a town you left behind.” Anyway, this book would make an excellent rom com. Obsessed with Grace, even more obsessed with Walter. May we all make it into the Fiery Pantheon one day.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annoying, stilted, repetitive. Southern fiction at close to its worst with "crazed young people" and a psychoanalyzing mother and a heroine who idealizes (in her mental fiery pantheon) seersucker suited men of the south. Yuk.

[LRKK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A flawed novel but, truly, it doesn’t much matter. Read it for the hypnotic lyricism and the old story made new.

[Chris Duray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot to like in the details but never felt like it came together in a coherent whole. Is that meant to be read as an example of a languid southern ethos? I don’t know, but I did like all of the different ways Walter could slump into a chair.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, although I'm not sure why. The writing style was strange, somehow, but I loved the characters, and the plot was satisfying. I'm a sucker for books about wealthy, eccentric Southerners, I guess.

[Meggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be in the minority here because I love The Fiery Pantheon. But I also loved Nancy Lemann's writing going into this, so...

Yes, there is a lot of repetition, and Lemann has favorite words that appear again and again: vast, madly, besotted, dementedly. (See this review from the NYT). But there are also hysterically funny passages: Grace's various accidental conquests unraveling before your eyes, Walter attempting to change into a tuxedo in an airplane lavatory à la James Bond.

I almost think parts of this novel work better read aloud; when I reached a good passage (which to be honest was every few pages), I'd read it out loud to whatever poor soul happened to be in my vicinity. They seemed to enjoy them, but then again, they could have just been humoring a crazed person.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I wanted to finish this book, interesteing story and characters, I couldn't wrap myself around the way it was written. A bit "Momemtum" like - it kept going back and saying the same things over and over again. Probably half as long and twice as good if the author did not deploy that writing style.

[Carey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars...I really {really} wanted to love this book, since it came highly recommended by a close friend, but in the end, I was just annoyed by the writing style and lack of storyline. :(

[Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in 1998 and loved it. I kept it in NY and read a chapter or two over this year. I love it still. For me, it’s a classic.