Colonell (colonell@cwia.com)
Thu, 30 Dec 1999 14:43:24 -0800
>
> I just finished PICK-UP by Willeford - a very dreary
and depressing look
at
> a couple of life's failures and throwaways. But,
still, very
> engrossing...kind of like watching a car wreck. A
question, though, for
> those more familiar with Willeford's work than me:
the last line of the
> novel, where he announces his race as "Negro".
Perhaps I didn't
understand
> the significance of this proclamation...was there
more to it than that?
My
> instant reaction was, "Umm, okay...*and*?" It seemed
to have been posed
as
> an almost O'Henry like twist - yet it didn't seem to
me to offer anything
to
> the book's prior storyline nor cast any new light on
what had come before
> it. Did I miss something? Or am I just making too
much of what was
simply
> meant as a throwaway last line?
>
> Ron Clinton
>
It has been some years since I've read PICK-UP, but the book
really "blew me away." I assumed all along that the
protagonist was white. That last line put a whole new spin on
the book for me. It seemed to be quite a commentary on the
vast ramifications of racism. His life was so hopeless, but
he never complains or blames prejudice for his problems. But
even though he doesn't blame anyone it seems he has suffered
terribly and that racism must have played a big part.
R. Colonell
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