Like lots of eighteenyearolds, the boy at the center of crum doesnt know wh. Lee maynards 1988 semiautobiographical novel crum is set in the small, poor west virginia town where he grew up. Its well worth the read if you liked crum, and even if you didnt. The crum trilogy book series by lee maynard includes books crum.
Crum as a young man in high school, growing up in crum, lee maynard would misbehave because punishment was being sent to the library, which he called a glorified closet with books. Lee maynards crum is one of those rare, cant put it down treats that american literature rarely affords the addicted reader. Lee maynard, a native of crum wayne county, west virginia, spins a sometimes shocking, often outrageous, always irreverent tale of his young protagonists rebellion against the place hes from and the people he grew up with. The novel, and screaming with the cannibals, and more on thriftbooks. Paperback, 193 pages reprint of the 1988 novel about crum, west virginia, in wayne county. Mountain whispers audiobooks is a great place to discover a rising new star in audio entertainment 2014 audie nominated actor ross ballard. Loved and hated, wv author lee maynards work was truly unique. The complete series list for the crum trilogy lee maynard. Maynard blurs the line between author and fictional narrator in an unusual epilogue where he returns as an adult to his hometown.
Lee maynard s semiautobiographical novel crum is set in crum, the small, dirtpoor west virginia coal town where he grew up. In the novel crum, lee maynard insulted both west virginia and kentucky in ways that were hurtful, deliberate, and likely not fully founded in facts. The novel recounts a nameless narrators experiences during his last year living in crum. Crum by lee maynard 2001, paperback for sale online ebay. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The author, who throughout most of the book, only waits for the day he can leave. In crum, a gritty coal town on the west virginiakentucky border, the boys. But unique seems the only appropriate word to discuss the colorful books penned by lee maynard, who died june 16 at 80 years old. Lee maynards semiautobiographical novel crum is set in crum, the small, dirtpoor west virginia coal town where he grew up. Jack cawthon, hur herald for all its faults, crum creates a hilarious, poignant, recognizable picture of a place and time, and of people i. Crum writer lee maynard passes away wc news herald.
Like nearly every other published word from lee maynard, the scummers is generally believed to be a loosely autobiographical novel or, if you prefer, fictionalized autobiography. Lee maynard books list of books by author lee maynard. It tells a story that resonates with a significant portion of the populace both in appalachia and out. Lee maynard s crum is one of those rare, cant put it down treats that american literature rarely affords the addicted reader. Lee maynard was an american novelist, short story writer, and journalist born in the small town of crum, west virginia. The novel is now, deservedly, in its third printing through vandaliawvu press. The teenaged narrator lives in a shed built on the back of his aunt and uncles shack. As a young man in high school, growing up in crum, lee maynard would misbehave because the punishment was being sent to the library, which he called a glorified closet with books.
Crum ebook by lee maynard 9781935978428 rakuten kobo. Screaming with the cannibals the crum trilogy ebook. Lee maynards 1988 semiautobiographical novel crum is set in the small. After two chapters i was hooked and try as i might i could not save it for later. See all books authored by lee maynard, including crum. Scattershots and hallucinations in an imagined life, i had never read his work, by my deliberate choice, until after his recent death. But later, the beauty of the town and the citizens emerges. There are so few really readable books that it behooves one to save a. It was an interesting book in the vein of gritty, appalachian style stories that reminded me of the more recent the devil all the time. Loved and hated, wv author lee maynards work was truly. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading crum crum trilogy. There are so few really readable books that it behooves one to save a few back to read when the pickings get particularly slim. Maynard, 51, sets his first effort, a 1950s comingofage story, in his native crum, w. But crum is, in fact, the actual name of an actual west virginia townwhich could be poignant if the author didnt milk it for all its worth by repeating the name crum as many as three or four times per paragraph in the opening pages of the book.
Screaming with the cannibals picks up from there and takes the young man further into situations that will surprise you. Reviewed by donna meredith even though the west virginia town i grew up in is nothingnothinglike the town of 219 residents lee maynard describes in his 1988 novel crum, i related strongly to this comingofage story. I heard about lee maynard and scummers on npr, and was intrigued enough to read crum, the first book in the trilogy. Screaming with the cannibals by lee maynard, paperback. The adults are cramped in and clueless, hemmed in by the mountains. Part huckleberry finn and part the red and the black, maynards novel crum is a touching and humorous look at smalltown life and the peculiar rituals of male adolescence. I loved lee maynard s crum, the book that started the journey of a young man in a desolate place in the southern hills of wv. Read crum by lee maynard available from rakuten kobo. The people of crum who know the book tend to love it or hate it or both. The novel, screaming with the cannibals, and the scummers.
The people of crum who know the book tend to love it or hate it. Lee maynard born 1936 died june 16, 2017 was an american novelist, short story writer, and journalist born in the small town of crum, west virginia. In crum, a gritty coal town on the west virginiakentucky border, the boys fight, swear, chase and sometimes catch girls. Lee maynard was born and raised in the hardscrabble ridges and hardpacked mountains of west virginia, an upbringing that darkens and shapes much of his writing. Stephen coonts, author flight of the intruder its a tale of growing up in and moving away from crum, a jumble of shacks on the tug river in the states godforsaken southern coal fields. Opening chapters embrace about every stereotype of appalachian life imaginable. Lee maynard in crum, a gritty coal town on the west virginiakentucky border, the boys fight, swear, chase and sometimes catch girls. See the complete crum trilogy series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles.
No writing has captured rural america this well since mark twain. Lee maynards colorful writing and unforgettable characters will haunt you for days. The crum trilogy series in order lee maynard fictiondb. Lee maynard was born and raised in the hardscrabble ridges and hardpacked mountains of west virginia, an upbringing that darkens and shapes much of his.
Moreover, maynard laced his debut novel with lots of profanity and explicit sex, offending other readers. Stephen coonts, author flight of the intruder whatever you do, dont read crum. Author lee maynard releases two new books through wvu press. I followed up by reading the remainder of maynard s trilogy, with scummers the finish. Lee maynard, author of the bestselling novel crum, is publishing two new books with west virginia university press the books, magnetic north and cinco becknell, tell the separate tales of two friends motorcycle ride toward the arctic circle and a homeless man with no memory. Reprint of the 1988 novel about crum, west virginia, in wayne county. Buy crum second edition, second printing by maynard, lee isbn. A traditional youngmancomingofage novel in the time of the korean war. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Apr 30, 2012 lee maynard s crum is one of those rare, cant put it down treats that american literature rarely affords the addicted reader. The scummers is the third and last book in the crum trilogy which includes the aforementioned crum and screaming with the cannibals. August 2, 2012 the scummers is the last installment in maynards crum trilogy.