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Speed of Light
Twelve-year-old Larry spends the summer before junior high school with his best friends, Witt and Rafferty, playing different forms of baseball and discovering the secrets of the universe.
- GenresFiction
Library Binding
First published January 1, 2003
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51 people want to read
About the author
Ron Carlson
78 books123 followersRon Carlson is an American novelist and writer of short stories.
Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Salt Lake City. He earned a masters degree in English from the University of Utah. He then taught at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he started his first novel.
He became a professor of English at Arizona State University in 1985, teaching creative writing to undergraduates and graduates, and ultimately becoming director of its Creative Writing Program.
Carlson also taught at the University of California, Irvine.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carlson
Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Salt Lake City. He earned a masters degree in English from the University of Utah. He then taught at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he started his first novel.
He became a professor of English at Arizona State University in 1985, teaching creative writing to undergraduates and graduates, and ultimately becoming director of its Creative Writing Program.
Carlson also taught at the University of California, Irvine.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carlson
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 28, 2018
Ron Carson's "Speed of Life" is a coming of age book about a group of boys who are on the cusp of leaving the world of Little League Baseball and liking girls. It is the summer between Elementary School and Junior High School, where this class will be meeting three new elementary school graduates when they enter the new building...
Reading this book I was not quite sure whether it was a YA or an adult book. I would suggest that it would be right for the "Older" YA group 17+ years of age. A good read for the correct age. I would not be comfortable with a Young Adult in the 10-16 age group reading this....
Reading this book I was not quite sure whether it was a YA or an adult book. I would suggest that it would be right for the "Older" YA group 17+ years of age. A good read for the correct age. I would not be comfortable with a Young Adult in the 10-16 age group reading this....
January 29, 2023
I love it. Puts a spin on summer.
June 9, 2014
Witt is a scientist. He says that “he wants to know everything, not just part.” He and Rafferty and Larry (the narrator) have performed countless experiments trying to learn everything that they can. They study chemistry, physics, biology, magic, geology, and most importantly, baseball. This classic coming of age story gives readers a stroll down memory lane as they experience sleepovers, crazy adventures, playing ball, and learning what it is to grow up.
This book is really fun. The classic theme of ‘growing up’ isn’t too heavy handed either which makes it much easier and more interesting to read. There is a few instances of sexual circumstance as characters are discovering their sexuality. Overall Carlson does a great job at delivering the excitement and anxiety that comes with being a kid and realizing that you’re growing up. Wonderful novel.
This book is really fun. The classic theme of ‘growing up’ isn’t too heavy handed either which makes it much easier and more interesting to read. There is a few instances of sexual circumstance as characters are discovering their sexuality. Overall Carlson does a great job at delivering the excitement and anxiety that comes with being a kid and realizing that you’re growing up. Wonderful novel.
September 30, 2013
Originally published in journals such as Missouri Review and Sports Illustrated, but marketed as a YA book, these stories all concern narrator Larry, and friends Witt and Rafferty in the three months before junior high school, their last summer of Little League and friendship in Utah. “The air itself swims with fifty million mingling smells” (88). They play baseball, but also Cup Ball and Fence Tag, and they perform dangerous experiments with household current, reanimate a dead alligator, and sleep in the back yard. The voice is too mature, too lyrical for a first person, present tense story from the POV of an adolescent, but mostly I didn’t mind. “When he arrives, we all-stars swarm around him, and he spills out baseballs before us as if he is feeding fish” (224-225).
June 9, 2015
"Time is passing. I can feel the whole night burning in the base of my brain, behind my eyes. It is the ache of time. Time is passing through my head like friction tape. This is it, I think: time is passing; it makes me dizzy. 'Yeah,' I say to Witt. 'I can feel it going through us right now."
"It's a significant swing initiated high-elbow fashion. The bat floats above his right shoulder and then falls imperceptibly with the little smooth hitch of his left foot as he sidesteps and his weight slides right to left and the wrists race around winging the bat in a great singing arc as true as a sight line. The Louisville Slugger cuts through the tangible air with a crisp swish, and for a half a second, Rafferty looks almost Dangerous."
"It's a significant swing initiated high-elbow fashion. The bat floats above his right shoulder and then falls imperceptibly with the little smooth hitch of his left foot as he sidesteps and his weight slides right to left and the wrists race around winging the bat in a great singing arc as true as a sight line. The Louisville Slugger cuts through the tangible air with a crisp swish, and for a half a second, Rafferty looks almost Dangerous."
November 17, 2016
Carlson's writing is a delight.
“The summer hangs above us like the exploding billows of trees along the alley. Every single thing is growing. All the green in this world of four blocks, three streets, two alleys, one park, the river, and Witt’s yard grows its own wild way, spearing through asphalt, eating fences, and leaping into the bright air like a jungle on fire. The air itself swims with fifty million mingling smells. Walking buoyantly down the alley with my two friends, I take a deep breath and love this day, the exact high rich center of summer, this feeling that something will happen” (p. 89).
“The summer hangs above us like the exploding billows of trees along the alley. Every single thing is growing. All the green in this world of four blocks, three streets, two alleys, one park, the river, and Witt’s yard grows its own wild way, spearing through asphalt, eating fences, and leaping into the bright air like a jungle on fire. The air itself swims with fifty million mingling smells. Walking buoyantly down the alley with my two friends, I take a deep breath and love this day, the exact high rich center of summer, this feeling that something will happen” (p. 89).
April 11, 2012
Share Larry's adventures and feelings over the summer following his sixth grade year in this first-person narrative. There are backyard sleepovers, interesting neighbors, parents, experiments of many kinds, and lots of baseball.
Experience the sweet and the bittersweet of childhood's end and the dread and anticipation of entering the teen years. There are laughs and tension, mistakes and discoveries. You'll probably read this in one sitting as you will not want to put it down.
Experience the sweet and the bittersweet of childhood's end and the dread and anticipation of entering the teen years. There are laughs and tension, mistakes and discoveries. You'll probably read this in one sitting as you will not want to put it down.
November 10, 2007
Ron Carlson wrote about elements of adolescent summers exactly as I remember them. I would recommend this book as a light, quick read, that allowed me to reminisce of earlier years, yet left me with plenty to think about.
July 28, 2010
Several young boys play every kind of ball and try numerous science experiments throughout the summer. Meanwhile they learn some things about each other that takes the glow off of their childhood. Some very funny dialogue.
August 3, 2007
I had trouble relating, but it was a sweet plot and story.
October 6, 2007
even if you had no interest before, it will make you take a
second look at baseball
wonderfully sad but well written; made me relate to a
different time period
second look at baseball
wonderfully sad but well written; made me relate to a
different time period
October 5, 2008
Coming of age story. Written by a local author and using Rose Park as a setting... While I liked the characters, I think it might appeal more to a young male audience.
February 28, 2009
Carlson is a good writer and this kid lit book had some great moments, but it seemed to intentionally want to make use of the worst plot cliches available. That soured my experience.
March 3, 2010
pure delight.
i've never read a coming of age story from the perspective of a boy. this was entertaining and fun and i laughed out loud a few times. great read. thanks ryan!
i've never read a coming of age story from the perspective of a boy. this was entertaining and fun and i laughed out loud a few times. great read. thanks ryan!
October 27, 2011
A poignant coming of age story.
June 21, 2012
Oh man what a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews