Conversations with Walker Percy

by Lewis A. Lawson, Victor A. Kramer, Walker Percy

These collected interviews, like a visit with Percy at his home on the Bogue Falaya River, provide refreshing close-up encounters with one of America's most celebrated writers.

These twenty-seven interviews cover a period of twenty-two years, from the time of the publication of Percy's first novel, The Moviegoer , in 1961, until 1983, when he was interviewed about his friendship with Thomas Merton.

These unabridged interviews, collected from a variety of sources, will give reading pleasure to general readers who wish to know Percy and his works more closely, and they will be of great use to Percy scholars.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literature

342 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1985

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might take a half-star off because of the repetition (many interviews conducted over a long period of time but Percy was asked the same questions often) and because, frankly, the linguistic stuff was over my head. But Percy was a singular novelist and his blend of humor and philosophy and his pellucid understanding of his characters' lives and motivations are nearly unmatched. And he said lovely things like this:
“I can only quote Kierkegaard, who said something that astounded me and that I did not understand for a long time. He spoke of the three stages of existence, the aesthetic, the ethical, the religious. When you pass the first two you find yourself in an existential predicament which can be open to the religious of the absurd. He equated religion with the absurdity. He called it the leap into the absurd. But what he said and was puzzling to me was that, after the first two, the closest thing to the third stage is humor. I thought about that for a long time. I cannot explain it except I know it is true.”

[Stephen Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think my wife is probably relieved that I've finished this book, because now I won't be giggling to myself while reading which in turn makes her feel obligated to ask what was funny which in turn makes me wax poetical about a rather obscure Southern, Catholic author who has a profoundly dry sense of humor. This compilation of interviews is fantastic. The editor warns you in the introduction that it gets repetitive, because many people wish to ask the same questions (therefore receive consistent replies). And when you begin to get a feel for Percy's personality it makes it all the funnier, because he's probably rolling his eyes yet answering in his generous, hospitable, Louisianan tone. The self-interview "Questions They Never Asked Me" is priceless and Percy's sardonic tone rings beautifully throughout.

If you've read any of Walker Percy's novels, this book can be extraordinarily illuminating as well. He speaks very plainly about what he was trying to do in each book and whether he thought it worked or not and how it was different than his last novel. I'd read a handful of Percy already, and this book really helped integrate all the different plots and characters and themes together into a coherent project.

Percy's biography and influences are discussed often, and they helped me understand where Percy was writing from from a philosophical and experiential perspective. His Southern-ness is inextricable to his writing, but he does not write from the vein of Faulkner or Welty or O'Connor. He sings the tune of Camus and Dostoevsky from the swamps of Louisiana, and I find him to be one of the most influential authors that I've had the pleasure of reading.

[sch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive, as some reviewers (goodreads and professional) have said, but not beyond bearing. Helpful for synthesizing Percy's career - for developing a coherent vision of his whole body of work. Esp. because the interviews are arranged chronologically (by date of publication, not necessarily date of interview).

What a charming, cranky man he appears to have been.

[Shirley J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had started reading 'all things Shelby Foote' and it turns out I knew nothing. But I began to meet his life-time friend, Walker Percy. Is there something in the water in the Mississippi Delta? The mind of this man is intriguing to say the least. I could almost understand him but realized I was falling short. I kept trying to peel of the layers of an intellectual mind so that I could say 'Ah, Hah!'. It only left me knowing that I will have to come back to Conversations with Walker Percy. A man with whom I would like to pass time on the front porch.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great set of interviews which have been helping me as I read through Percy's works for a 2nd time.

[rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am BEGGING HIM. To stop it with the pregnancy metaphors. We've had enough. I did love the continuation of his love-hate relationship with Faulkner that stemmed from the tennis court incident.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book once a few years back and couldn't get into it. I found this at my love library and thought I'd give it a second go since I've read a lot by and about Percy in that time frame. I loved this book. There was quite a bit of repetition but it actually makes the book better when the (best) interviewer near the end from Mississippi sets out to do a totally unique interview that still addresses many of the reputations and we actually get more explanation for Percy's rehab life beyond "I read a lot" and more about his eccentric uncle will. A great read for Percy fans or philosophy minded persons in general. Five stars.

[Sister Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Dad had this book (and a few others by Percy), mainly because Percy was a New Orleans, Catholic writer. I was actually introduced to Percy by Sr Margaret Kerry, who wrote a thesis on him as "pathologist of the soul" (playing with Percy's background as a doctor). He certainly was a sharp diagnostician!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the casual reader, the book may be too dense for a read through. For those looking to learn more about Percy, the interviews are fascinating arrays of his personality, intelligence and wit.

Four stars for repetitiveness and thoroughness of inclusion (double-edged sword!).