St. Dale

If it weren't for the name "Sharyn McCrumb", I would not have picked up this book. But I am truly glad I did. Nothing at all like her Ballad series, except in its excellence, this book leaves the mountains and heads off to the NASCAR circuit, of all unexpected things! McCrumb, to the great benefit of her readers, has been stretching herself of late. The first annual Dale Earnhardt Memorial Pilgrimage has attracted quite a variety of folks, from an Episcopal priest escorting a dying boy, a couple who marry at the first speedway, and a New York stockbroker, to a woman who thinks Dale's ghost fixed her car on a deserted country road. Their guide is a former NASCAR driver looking to get back in the game. As their bus wends it way from Bristol to Daytona, they, like certain more famous pilgrims, tell stories, and find out about each other and themselves. McCrumb's usual excellent characterizations, as she delves into the question of what makes a secular saint. Why are there Elvis sightings, and not John Lennon sightings? Why did so many people care when Princess Diana died? It was not her intent to write a book about Earnhardt; indeed, she was not a NASCAR fan. But the outpouring of grief at his death, his canonization as a secular saint, made him a good focus for the book had in mind on that subject. I don't know if she intended it or not, but she is also writing about class and regional prejudice in America. You don't need to be a NASCAR fan to enjoy this book, but it couldn't hurt.

but I believe this one is her best so far. I am not a NASCAR fan...I know absolutely nothing about racing but my son was a diehard Earnhardt fan. He'll be so proud of me for even reading this book. I have a new respect for Dale's fans now and I was rivetted by the facts and figures that Harley was able to impart to his group.. It's a great read from cover to cover.

I had been talking about St. Dale to some of my more difficult fifth grade boys. As a teacher, I thought if I could find some common ground, I may be able to win them over. I had forgotten our conversations until several weeks later, one of the boys said, "I read the book." I wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying and asked him what book he was talking about. He said, "The one about Earnhardt... St. Dale. I bought it. I liked it." Now this boy probably never read a book in his life that wasn't required for a book report and never one 300 pages long. Not even Harry Potter! I always read McCrumb's books at least twice. First, for the story and then I go back and savor the words, pealing back the layers of the story, searching for the messages she always leaves for those smart enough to look. Secular sainthood mixed with a rewrite of The Canterbury Tale?. Only McCrumb could come up with that! Even if you aren't the least bit interested in NASCAR, this is still Sharyn McCrumb at her best. You will not be disappointed and may learn something in spite of yourself.

Like some of the other reviewers, I hesitated before reading this book. I'm not particularly interested in racing but I knew enough about it to know that I don't care for Dale Earnhardt. But somehow, I started reading it and let me tell you, it is GOOD!! The wide variety of characters and we learn about all of them during the trip. From the elderly couple where the wife has Alzheimer's to the young couple who gets married at the race track and spends their honeymoon on the tour. Terence Palmer who is trying to find a link with his dead father. The small child, Matthew, who is very ill. The very opposite 3 sisters and the former racer tour guide. They all come together beautifully as their stories are told. And along with that - the racing trivia (dare I say trivia in regard to racing?). From how drivers get to the track, how ancient Romans kept score during the chariot races, what do idiots think NASCAR stands for and who the drivers talk to on their headsets. It's all very interesting. And it all fits into the storyline beautifully. By the end of the book, I felt I knew and really liked these people and I certainly knew more about racing history. Give it a try - you may be surprised.

I know, I know, you are thinking, "NASCAR? No way!" So did I. Let me assure you, this is one of her best, or maybe even *the* best, and I never thought anything could beat THE ROSEWOOD CASKET. Her same superb character depictions are there, the same sub-plots subtly woven together; the twist, the thing that is so *new* about this venture, is the allegorical theme. This one, like so many of her others, leaves you thinking about things for days afterwards, and pondering your own heroes and objects of worship. It's *that* good. What I want to know is, why are her McPherson novels not listed in the front of this one, along with her Appalachian books? They are not cast-off children!