Years back I was collecting classics, especially the lesser known ones, and that is how I discovered ‘Bless the Beasts and Children‘ by Glendon Swarthout. I have wanted to read it for a long time, but somehow never got around to it. Recently, when Emma from ‘Book Around the Corner’ got the French translation of the book by the publisher Gallmeister (Do check out her beautiful post on Gallmeister editions here), I was quite excited, because I didn’t know anyone else who had this book or who had read it, and I was surprised that there was a new French translation. We talked about this book and decided to do a readalong.
Six boys ranging in age from twelve to sixteen, are there is a summer camp. They are here, because some of their parents feel that they are problematic children and they feel that this camp will help them. In the case of others, the parents have problems themselves and want their children out of their way. In the camp, children align naturally together as groups, and these six boys are left out because they are misfits. They get together as a group, but they struggle in most of the activities in the camp, coming last in most competitions. One day when their counsellor takes them out forward a drive, these six boys see something. And that experience leaves a profound impact in their heart. And they decide to do something about it. And what happens next is amazing. They take up an impossible project and we start cheering for them. Whether they succeed or not, you’ll know in the last page of the book.
I loved ‘Bless the Beasts and Children‘. The first half was a bit slow-paced as we get to know about the six main characters, and how they are struggling at camp, and we learn their backstories. We also wonder why they are doing something strange, and we want to know what is happening. When the surprise is revealed halfway through the book, the story kicks to another gear and the pages start flying. I loved all the six characters, especially, John Cotton, who is like their leader, and William Lally, the youngest member of the group who is twelve years old (or Lally 2, as he is called, because his elder brother, who is also part of the six, is Lally 1). The ending of the story is magnificent, gives goosebumps, but is also heartbreaking.
What about the ‘beasts’ in the title? Yes, of course, there are beasts in the story. Each of them is six feet tall, nine feet long and weighs more than 2000 pounds. One description in the book goes like this :
“…and suddenly, with a rumble and roar, something the size of a dinosaur came at them and a hot breath slapped their faces and they tumbled backward…”
So what exactly are these beasts? What do they have to do with the story? What is the relationship between them and our six characters? Why are our six getting into trouble and trying to poke the bear, or rather poke the beast here? Well, I can’t tell you more. It will take away the pleasure of the book, if you decide to read it. One thing I’ll say is this. This book depicts how big things, magnificent things can be achieved even by people who are regarded as misfits, if they keep at it and defy their detractors and fight against obstacles. The second thing I’ll say is this. This book also depicts the vast amount of harm humans have done to wildlife and the environment. It is hard to believe that as a group, humans are capable of so much cruelty, and it is harder to believe that normal people are part of this. It makes us think and it makes us sad.
I will leave you with some of my favourite lines from the book.
“In that place the wind prevailed. There was always sound. The throat of the canyon was hoarse with wind. It heaved through pines and passed and was collected by the cliffs. There was a phenomenon of pines in such a place. When wind died in a box canyon and in its wake the air was still and taut, the trees were not. The passing trembled in them, and a sough of loss. They grieved. They seemed to mourn a memory of wind.”
“It was that last, impotent hour between darkness and dawn, when men buy truth and sell illusions.”
You can find Emma’s review at her blog.
Have you read ‘Bless the Beasts and Children‘? What do you think about it?
Sounds absolutely fascinating, and I’ve not heard of it before!
It was a surprise discovery for me, Kaggsy. The second half was really good! I am glad I read it.
Sounds interesting. I’d never heard of the book before.
It was a surprise discovery for me, Caroline 🙂 Never heard of this author before I discovered this book. The second half was really good. I am glad I read it.
[…] One of the great pleasures of book blogging is doing readalongs. Reading is a solitary affair but there is something very satisfying in reading a book along with someone else and have the opportunity to discuss it with another reader who has all the details fresh in mind. Vishy and I decided to read along Bless the Beasts and Children by Glendon Swarthout and Vishy’s review is here. […]
Sorry for being late with my billet Vishy.
I loved it. Wonderfully written, original characters, beautiful description of the landscape and of Arizona.
A treat, a book I’ll recommend to others. I wonder why it’s not better known, really.
Spoiler alert for other readers.
I toyed with the idea of letting know what the beasts were and decided to let it know in my billet because I wanted to talk about the animal rights a little bit and the fact that this book and subsequent things forced Arizona to change the hunting rules.
I see you decided against it and that’s fair because part of the pleasure of the book is to wonder where the hell they are headed.
Like you, I rooted for these misfits and hoped they come out of this stronger, not in a cowboy sense, but more in the sense of resilience.
I was horrified by the camp’s rules and the idea of masculinity that they foster and support. This is an important theme in this coming-of-age novella, I think.
These boys’ parents are horrible too. Neglectful at best. All failed at building a loving and constructive relationship with their child and decided to send them away in the hope that this boot camp will fix things. Terrible.
Thanks so much for doing this readalong with me, Emma 🙂 I enjoyed it very much. Yes, I decided to not reveal the identity of the beasts in my review. I thought about it, because I felt that it was important to discuss about them, but finally decided to keep the surprise 🙂 I am glad you wrote about it though – I loved your review and your analysis. I am glad they changed the rules after this book came out. Like you, I am surprised that this book is not more well known. I hope more people read it. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Loved your review 🙂
I enjoyed the readalong too and maybe our billets will push another reader to read this excellent coming-of-age novella.
Let’s do another readalong some time, maybe with another Gallmeister book? We seem to have this kind of literature in common.
Yes, it will be wonderful if more people read this book. Yes, it will be great to do another readalong 🙂 Another Gallmeister book sounds wonderful! You make the suggestion this time 🙂