More Joy in Heaven

I read "More Joy in Heaven" by Morley Callaghan in a few short hours. I don't think I have ever been so frustrated and moved by a book. It lays the most horrible and beautiful aspects of human nature out along side one another, and I can't understand how a man (Callaghan) can have such clear vision. The main character (Kip) is a convicted bank robber who believed that he was above everyone else. It was this sense of detachment that allowed him to commit his crimes without guilt, and which eventually got him stuck in prison. But once in prison Kip began to realize that there was more to life than being a headline. He began to slowly reform himself. He wanted to be like other people, to be with them, as friends and as equals. He wanted to lead a normal life. The novel starts as he is being released on parole. His release was organized by a chairitable senator, inspired by the completeness of Kip's reform. Once free, Kip had intended to work as a garbage man, or as a street cleaner, but he finds himself a sudden celebrity. I don't want to ruin the novel, so I won't describe any more, but I will say that Callaghan does not write one dimensional characters. This book is captivating and has a ring of truth that makes the mistakes of the main character all the more harrowing.I strongly reccomend this book.

Morley Callghan portrays Kip Caley as a man who is released from prison due to his good behaviour. As a result of his good behaviour he is praised amongst the town. Things turn bad when Kip loses his job and the town gets tired of his image.

A well written novel based on the life of a born again criminal who's life goes from bad to good to worse, very dramatic, quick read.