Good Times / Bad Times: A Novel

I remember being tremendously moved by this novel, so much that I looked for more works by James Kirkwood and acquired and read them. This, however, was unique in its deep melancholy and sadness of the memory shared in its pages, unlike his more humorous work. Not that it is without lighter

moments, but the tension that pervades the work and the seriousness of the feelings that are not always capable of being expressed overcomes the lighter moments. The themes of friendship in a school setting and coming-of -age are handled adeptly. I'm overdue to reread this and will revise this review if necessary.

Show Less

3 more

LibraryThing member presto

Eighteen year old Peter Kilburn has been arrested for the murder of his head teacher, Mr Hoyt, and he now starts to recount the events that led up to this predicament in a statement addressed to his defending attorney, which is Good Times Bad Times.

Peter, son of a one time moderately successful

Hollywood actor living in California, finds himself courtesy of the benevolence of one of his father's cronies enrolled at Gilford Academy, once a respectable minor New England school but now on the decline. He is looking forward to making new friends, and particularly to finding that one special friend; he likes to be able to relate to one close individual. Things do not look too good until a new boy arrives, the twenty year Jordan. Immediately they connect and soon develop a remarkable close and trusting friendship. Jordan is the youngest son of a wealthy New Orleans family, but if ill health has held him back in several ways it has also made him strongly individual.

Peter's relationship with his headmaster is rather different. After a bad start he eventually wins favour as Hoyt selects him for a reading from Hamlet in a school production. But Hoyt is unpredictable and unbalanced, and his moods swings from friendly to aggressive. He becomes infatuated with Peter, and jealous of his friendship with Jordan, both of which lead to a number of problems, and the tragic outcome mentioned above.

James Kirkwood masterfully conveys the spirit of youth. Both Peter and Jordan come across as likeable and honest characters while their fellow students are an odd assortment of misfits, Hoyt is clearly deranged, and there are plenty more larger than life characters. It all adds up to a funny, at times hilarious, often shocking, but above all very moving story; beautifully written it is to be highly recommended.

Show Less

LibraryThing member amberella

The writing style of this books reminds me of Catcher in The Rye.

LibraryThing member wademlee

Told as a frame story with the protagonist recalling the events from his jail cell, this work is a nicely paced prep school novel. The main characters are never one-dimensional (although plenty of the other students are). A balanced picture of the homosexual characters as well, since the gay/bi

characters are not all in the 'villianous' or 'idealized' camp. The humor is wry and ironic, the tension palpable and well written.

Show Less

Fewer