BURNT TOAST

by Peter Gould ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 1971

What I am like is what I am not; things that you see are as provisional as words themselves, temporary perceptions that last till you know what's really there."" Not that there seems to be much really there, only what might come out of very young Silent's vision, ""power vision,"" which started with burnt toast. Tiffs takes place during less than 200 pages on his father's farm -- his father who is going to die (the action) -- and there are walks and talks and dreams and songs and thoughts, all on the way to Silent's becoming a poet. ""The quest is just a structure like anything else. It's over before it begins."" Sometimes it begins well, with a little humor and fey artifacts and innocence and affection and lots of sunlight, clear and warm (cf. Brautigan) but Gould just doesn't get with it. Sometimes you also think it's nice all these young folks have so much time to contemplate themselves if they weren't taking up your time. . . . A mood rap.

Pub Date: May 7, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1971

Categories: FICTION