This was one of those books that was never on any of my reading lists but seemed like one of those American classics that I should have read. It's such a very sad story, it's hard to recommend....but the descriptive writing is unlike anything I've ever read. This story could be great for a book club discussion. ( )

Reason read; Pulitzer 1958, TIOLI read a book with death in the title
I had this on my list to read at least twice before and I finally got it read. I did not know anything about the book and discovered that this is an autobiographical novel. The author's dad died in a car accident. In this story the death is reflected by the wife, by the brother of the deceased , by Rufus the son and his sister. It explores religion. The wife is Catholic, the father is an atheist. The author died before publishing the story. The story is set in Tennessee.
The setting is in the early 1900s. The automobile is new, many still get around by horse and wagon. It was rewritten by David McDowell who took liberties. Michael Lofaro maintains that the novel as published 1957 was not the version intended for print by the author. Lofaro discussed his work at a conference that was part of the Knoxville James Agee Celebration (April 2005). Having tracked down the author's original manuscripts and notes, Lofaro reconstructed a version he considers more authentic. This version, entitled A Death in the Family: A Restoration of the Author's Text, was published in 2007. I think I read the one by McDowell. And that would be the one that actually won the Pulitzer. ( )

Premio Pulitzer 1958

This was on the People's version of the Modern Library List of best fiction. Published posthumously, it wasn't really edited. A close look at something one usually looks away from. Much of it is brilliant. ( )

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This is a difficult review to write, because I believe I should have felt more than I did while reading this poignant account of the death of a young father. I’m not sure if the lack of connection was my fault or Agee’s, but I am going to assume it was mine.

The descriptions of the relationship between the father, Jay, and his son, Rufus, are touching and very real. Since the book is autobiographical in nature, Agee having lost his own father at the age of six, they no doubt ring true because they are. Perhaps it is the reactions of the other adults--the mother, aunt and mother’s parents--that don’t quite fit for me, but then I have never been the mother of small children to whom I must give the sad news that their father is gone. Surely every person handles this kind of grief in their own way.

I have experienced loss, however, both expected and unexpected, and I know that the shock of losing someone who is young and vital and expected to live for years to come is quite different than that of a life closing in age. I’m sure the loss of a father at so young an age leaves an impression that affects everything going forward. I felt so much for this boy, who is already tackling the obstacles of trying to fit into a group that continually ridicules you, but because I could not get close enough to the others to care I felt there was something missing.

The events of this story are sorrowful, bitter, painful and heartbreaking, but my own feelings were sympathy rather than empathy. I recognized the tragedy; I just couldn’t feel it. For his beautiful and lyrical writing style, all kudos to Agee. For his willingness to explore a subject that must have been wretched to revisit, kudos as well.
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