- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: New Directions Publishing (17 Nov 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0811216446
- ISBN-13: 978-0811216449
- Product Dimensions: 20.2 x 13.6 x 1.4 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,109,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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First Sentence
I will tell you in a few words who I am: lover of the hummingbird that darts to the flower beyond the rotted sill where my feet are propped; lover of bright needlepoint and the bright stitching fingers of humorless old ladies bent to their sweet and infamous designs; lover of parasols made from the same puffy stuff as a young girl's underdrawers; still lover of that small naval boat which somehow survived the distressing years of my life between her decks or in her pilothouse; and also lover of poor dear black Sonny, my mess boy, fellow victim and confidant, and of my wife and child. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I will tell you in a few words who I am: lover of the hummingbird that darts to the flower beyond the rotted sill where my feet are propped; lover of bright needlepoint and the bright stitching fingers of humorless old ladies bent to their sweet and infamous designs; lover of parasols made from the same puffy stuff as a young girl's underdrawers; still lover of that small naval boat which somehow survived the distressing years of my life between her decks or in her pilothouse; and also lover of poor dear black Sonny, my mess boy, fellow victim and confidant, and of my wife and child. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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2 reviews
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
More than skin deep
12 April 2000
Format:Paperback
Second Skin is a lyrical, difficult but ultimately rewarding novel. It focuses on Skipper, the narrator, who simply tries to survive a series of life tragedies ranging from being the victim of a mutiny to losing his wife and daughter to suicide.
To say these things is not to give away the plot. Because Skipper does not tell his story in a linear fashion, we know what will happen from the beginning. The pleasure is in listening to the narrative voice tell his "naked history" (as Skipper calls it).
John Hawkes is an under-appreciated writer and a brilliant prose stylists. For anyone who loves to read beautiful sentences, this book is highly recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A difficult but beautiful read
14 Aug 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As with most things in life I know entirely rely on Amazon to tell me what I like, and what I will read next. Once again I was not let down.
This was a book I had to put down and come back to many times. It is written almost like poetry the pours from that saddest places in every person's spirit. John Hawkes is a brilliant and deep writer. My only complaint is that he isn't necessarily captivating. I struggled in the beginning to find my footing in the endless lamenting. Eventually I was tempted to shelf the book indefinitely but one day I found myself woven into the tapestry of this world, and desiring to know more.
I recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind "working for it" (if you know what i mean).
This was a book I had to put down and come back to many times. It is written almost like poetry the pours from that saddest places in every person's spirit. John Hawkes is a brilliant and deep writer. My only complaint is that he isn't necessarily captivating. I struggled in the beginning to find my footing in the endless lamenting. Eventually I was tempted to shelf the book indefinitely but one day I found myself woven into the tapestry of this world, and desiring to know more.
I recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind "working for it" (if you know what i mean).
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