Bracket #2: Roadwork (1981)

[mae]

Roadwork, 1981
http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/510/medium/Roadwork_face.jpg

Please vote for Roadwork (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadwork) using the following scale:


5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1
0
Never read


If you haven't read this book yet, please vote Never Read. Feel free to discuss your votes in this thread.

[amd013]

Although I have read it, I had to mark it as Never Read, since it is the only SK book that I have read that I have no recollection of. I was tempted to give it a 2.5, since I figure if I can't remember it, it couldn't have been great, or really bad for that matter.

In the process of rereading some of his books, maybe I'll add this one to the list.

[Girlystevedave]

I walked away from this one not really feeling much at all. And I can't recall anything significant about it now.

[St. Troy]

I read Roadwork when young, then again as a married father - perspective made a difference: I think Roadwork says interesting things about marriage (among other things).

This bit sticks with me: "I’ll just scream now, I think. For lost things. For your grin, Mary. Pardon me while I just throw back my head and scream for the grin that’s never there on your face anymore."

For the sake of discussion, I will quote some notes I took when rereading it 2012:

"Roadwork contains frustration above and beyond the Jack Torrance level; this is what happens when a man is asked to tolerate one thing too many. This is what happens when the downward spiral hits bottom, and you begin looking around for ways to chain yourself there. Bart is still human enough to care about Victor, Olivia and the ex-priest, but far gone enough to think that the punch he wishes to throw in frustration should involve explosives."

"Interesting how quickly a husband can be discarded once his problems become too much for him to handle. Mary had the waiting arms of her parents to run to – who was Bart supposed to go to in order to rebuild himself and his life? Good luck at college, Mary, good luck man-hunting, and be sure to enjoy the hell out of the $30k."

[mae]

The poll has closed. Roadwork has earned a FAS (final average score) of 3.047619048 or 60.95%. It received a rating of 3.5 with 6 votes.

[amd013]

hmmm, this score isn't giving me much encouragement to re-read this one. Its only one I have 0 recollection of the story.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

3.5. Slightly above average.