SHELIA

by Gunard Solberg ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 4, 1969

Shelia. A total presence. Her childhood, a separate land. At seventeen she no longer holds hands with the past. Her father's wealth an embarrassment (saddest hang-up, materialism), quoting Gibran and strange Zen Koans. Rephrasing Ramakrishna: 'You can't teach people who drive Chryslers about God.'"" The idolizing narrator Wayne is a kid with his own little hang-ups and one big one . . . he can't visualize telling his prejudiced parents that Shelia is a Negro. But she has him mesmerized . . . into becoming a pot pusher; following her into the grottiest places in town, wrecking a borrowed car and finally, running away to California. ""Funny instead of disgusting that not only am I playing Shelia's game, but I am enjoying it more than anything I can remember. Like a little kid, the first day out in his new Little League uniform. Now everyone KNOWS. I don't have to say a word. I come on. Don't have to prove anything to anyone. I just AM that daring guy, running with that far-out chick."" But it proves to be a real bummer of a trip, in this sad and wise and very very with it first novel that gets right into the imploding insides of a boy seduced by Hip, blinded by limited visions, who has to prove everything in order not to prove anything. Altogether together.

Pub Date: Sept. 4, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1969

Categories: FICTION