The English Major

Mark Bramhall sets just the right tone for the first person narration of Cliff, a former English major, high school teacher and farmer. 60-year-old Cliff is in the dumps because his wife has left him, his beloved dog has died, and his farm has been sold out from under him. So he takes off on a cross country road trip. This is a novel of ideas more than action, and the context of a road trip allows Cliff to muse on the nature of love and marriage, fidelity, loss, career choices, fishing, natural beauty and changes of fortune. The narrator captures the tension between the ennui Cliff feels at his losses, and the growing excitement of new landscapes and unplanned days. Harrison's prose is pleasantly conversational, yet elegant in its simplicity and lack of artifice.

I was laughing out loud at several parts in this story. Just the phrasing used by the main character to show his views on the world was sometimes hilarious, though dilivered quite dry. The narration seemed dead-on to me, meaning the voice and inflection seemed just right to me for an ex-farmer from Michigan... but then, who knows? just a perception. I just know he made me laugh.

On the down side, i felt that the character didn't really "get" anywhere. This is not the kind of book i often get (usually get detective stories), so not sure what i expected. Maybe that he'd grow a little more? I guess what i'm saying is that the ending left me disappointed, but in all, i enjoyed the trip.

I liked Harrison's writing style when I read "True North" and "The Summer He Didn't Die" and I found The English Major very amusing, in a dry, ironic way -- appealing to other men the age of the main character. I am not surprised that readers less than 50 years old find the character and the writing style abrasive or, maybe, offensive. I laughed out loud at many scenes and at the way the narrator expressed the words. I love the characters from the UPM (Upper Pennisula of Michigan). This is a great "On the Road" novel! Recently divorced but more sad about the death of his dog, cheated out of his share of the farm he ran, and on the road to see his gay son in California, the english major (BA in English) needs all his wit to survive.

I have never read or listened to any work by Jim Harrison before but this work is excellent. It is not only a road trip but a journey into what matters to the main character Cliff. An important point is that there is no psychobabble Cliff's view of his country the USA is wonderfully curmudgeonly, awake to the problems and possibilities. all the characters are wondefully off centre especially AD. The reader,s voice (Mark Bramhall)was very much in the tone of the text. Great audio.

I suspect the author planned to offer some grand insights into life and change, but the insights aren't grand, the characters aren't really very likeable, and in the end, one is left wondering why it took so long to make the authors pretty inane point.

It's true the writing style is colorful, and it might have even worked as an essay or short story, but eventually one has to actually say something, not just put words on the page.

Wouldn't recommend at all.

While not my favorite Jim Harrison novel I liked it enough to want the audio version. I already own the book and sometimes get audio versions for listing while doing mundane tasks. The reviewers voice and performance leave much to be desired. It is read in a monotone deep voice that makes the story a shade of gray instead of the vivid tones that Harrison's story's and poetry present. I will note the narrator for future purchases and refrain from any he reads.

Anyone one with some life in his/her voice would be preferable.

I would like to see Audible expand its poetry section, of all the areas I enjoy it is the least served and could use more investment.

I'm not sure if it was the writer's dry wit or the narrator excellence in delivering it, but this story just made me laugh. Its sad at points and your heart goes out for the main character at times, but his unique way at looking at life is refreshing and funny. I almost gave it 4 stars because the ending didn't quite live up to the rest of the book, but after thinking about the fact that I listened to it twice (something I rarely do) I went ahead and gave it 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book so much. I think the magic is the sum of the parts: the narration is spot-on; the story of the open road is descriptive and interesting without being laborious; the literary allusions of the title are non-pretentious and often heart-aching; and the main character: priceless. I almost didn't get this book because of the other reviews, but trust me, for those of a certain sensibility, this is a journey you will enjoy.

An English teacher turned farmer ruminates on his life on his quest to visit each state. The reason for his journey unfolds as he thinks about his wife and son, the latter of whom he is on his way to visit.
Even though his life has just been turned upside down, Cliff is a thoughtful guy who blames no one but himself for his situation. He has reasons to wallow in self-pity, but he remains remarkably cool. However, very little changes from beginning to end, and even though he has great sex with a younger woman, he finds little joy except in fishing and renaming the states.
The book rates three stars for his lucid observations about life, but needs a little more oomph.

Yep, that's a quote from the book, and it's also the tone of the book. You don't want to listen to this if you're a bit depressed. Yet, it's got redeeming passages and ideas. Of course, part of the cynicism is the reader, but it's not written for a happy reader:-)