Speed

Speed is a first-person novel about two brothers growing up half a century ago--the story of the narrator and his brother Speed, a magnificent boy in every respecct, except one. And Speed's one defect leads him to a mad act of nihilism that is remembered by his brother for a lifetime.

Harris--novelist ( Bang the Drum Slowly ), screenwriter and literature professor at the University of Arizona--sets this accomplished coming-of-age novel with its strong autobiographical element in a New York City suburb in the second quarter of this century. The narrator, like Harris a writer of a certain age living in the Southwest, recalls with poignant clarity, regret and fondness his youth in Mount Vernon, N.Y., as the son of the police chief--playing basketball, selling the Saturday Evening Post and visiting his grandparents at Walk a Mile House, named for Grandfather's wildly successful Camel cigarette slogan. Central to the tale is the narrator's younger brother, Speed, whose admirable character, looks, intelligence and athletic ability are undermined by a profoundly disabling stutter. Uncertain whether he has been instrumental in the development of Speed's stutter, the narrator, favored by their family and others, is never unaware of Speed's inherent superiority. This unvoiced awareness gives a dark undercurrent of guilt and grief to the narrator's passage to adulthood as, through the years, he often takes advantage of his undeserved status. True to period details and his narrator's emotions, Harris shows us that life replete with success in love and work can yet be ruled by sorrow.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Set in Mount Vernon, New York, in the 1920s and 1930s, this is the story of two brothers, both bright and handsome--Speed and the narrator. Of the two, Speed is brighter, more handsome, a better athlete, and a more generous human being. Unfortunately, Speed has a terrible stutter that negates his value in the eyes of many. Speed finds salvation of sorts in his dream of owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. While the narrator loves Speed, he is also jealous of him. He senses that if Speed talked normally, he--the narrator--would be seen as the lesser of the two. After Speed disappears, the narrator spends decades missing him and searching for him. Strong sense of place combined with excellent characterization make this bittersweet tale a superior reading experience. By the author of Bang the Drum Slowly (LJ 2/15/56) and The Southpaw (Buccaneer Bks., 1982; Univ. of Nebraska Pr., 1984. pap.) .
- James B. Hemesath, Adams State Coll. Lib., Alamosa, Col.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.