Ironweed thoughts in no particular order

Sorry it took me so long to post on this one. This book was almost painful to read. Don't get me wrong, it's beautifully written, and the dialogue is outstanding. But it was so raw. Kerouac talked about being "beat down to your socks" but none of the Beats had anything on Francis Phelan. This was absolutly unflinching in its examination of the indigent life.

I find it very interesting that the book was written in the eighties, the sort of pinnacle or at least the symbol of monetary success. In that sense the book could be seen as a big middle finger at the American concept of success.

I'd hesitate to call it a fantasy novel or even magic realism, because its so rooted in the visceral experience of the indigent, but his interaction with the dead is in some ways more profound than with the living.

One of the most powerful scenes, to my thinking, was when Helen gave her last bit of change at mass. There were several references that made me sure that Kennedy has a more than passing knowledge of scripture, but I was wondering to what extent you thought the novel could be considered Catholic? Is the book essentially a meditation on the relation between spirituality and the poor?

Also what was he saying about sin? what was the bit about "fornication" being a sort of currency among the indigent.

I'm not really good at going first, what did you think?