From Nationalpost · · 1m 10s
Dodge City Review
Patrick deWitt's Dodge City reveals literary mastery through a road trip to self-discovery.
In brief
Patrick deWitt's Dodge City reveals literary mastery through a road trip to self-discovery. Patrick deWitt's Dodge City shows his writing mastery through a road trip narrative where a young man flees Vietnam to find himself in Canada. Originally reported by Nationalpost.
Dodge City by Patrick deWitt
Patrick deWitt's Dodge City, a House of Anansi publication, subverts classic road novel elements with a focus on decision-making rather than quest.
Lee Clarke's journey begins
Lee Clarke, a 23-year-old broke L.A. expat, gets expelled from UCLA after punching a rich kid and flees Vietnam by heading to Canada.
The road trip starts
Lee signs on to deliver a Jaguar from L.A. to the East Coast, fueled by amphetamines called white crosses.
Family decisions
Each family member makes their own decision, settling for themselves rather than less, creating the best and worst fate.
DeWitt's writing style
DeWitt's prose glides on water, plumbing depths with sly insights, dark wit, and incisive understatement.
The ending reveals
The story ends with deWitt confirming his identity as a poet through Lee's quiet moment of reflection at the window.
The one thing
Patrick deWitt's Dodge City shows his writing mastery through a road trip narrative where a young man flees Vietnam to find himself in Canada.
