Scar Lover

Scar Lover was the first book that I read by Harry Crews, followed by The Mulching of America..After Mulching, I almost gave up on Crews..but these were library books so I ordered my own copy of Scar Lover, along with several more of his works..A feast of Snakes took me back to being raised in wire-grass country (Echo, Al) and put me on to Celebration..He is a tremendous writer in all respects..I do admit the with Mulching he almost lost me as a reader, but I went back and have yet to find a poorly written book..he is remendous..it is no wonder that he was Larry Brown's mentor..

'Scar Lover' is one of Harry Crews's best works. With his eccentric characters and off-beat humor, he weaves this tale of an emotionally lost man finding his way slowly back to life and love. Pete Butcher is a loner, living in a boarding house in Jacksonville, Florida. He avoids contact with people for deeper reasons than we first suspect. Seemingly against his will, Pete is pulled into the lives of the strange neighbors next door. The first one he meets is Sarah Leemer, a tall, beautiful, mysterious girl with a few problems of her own. She lives with her parents who are equally strange. As she draws Pete into her life, we begin to see the changes she affects in him. His life which was empty soon begins to fill again.Crews introduces us to his usual array of odd southern folks and a Jamaican couple George and Linga find their way in as well. The story is often touching in little ways, and we never stop hoping that Pete somehow finds some happiness. The title 'Scar Lover' is very fitting, as each character has been scarred in different ways, emotionally and physically. Harry Crews is an accomplished writer who deserves more recognition.

Crews is a tremendous writer, able to capture the blood and guts of humanity. he apologizes for nothing and realizes truth for what it is - wretched, beautiful, shameful, and proud. for me the most wonderful point in the story was when the hero made the almost instant desicion to stay with the heroine and her family no matter the consequences. a true testament of how a man's mind often operates; quickly and without a lot of forethought (and this is not an insult - it's just truth). enchanting. possibly my favorite book!

Don't believe what the Kirkus Review says. ScarLover is one of Harry Crews very best and uplifiting novels. It is funny, bizzare, sad and ultimately uplifting. Isn't that what the world needs?