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| Plot Summary of Counting Coup |
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"
Forge, Oct 2001, 24.95, 305 pp.
ISBN: 0765301857
Sixty plus years old apartment super Charlie Sarris is outraged that the landlord rented out the room by the water heater. Charlie uses that room to drink himself into oblivion. The new renter, failed Indian medicine man John Stone, is also in his mid sixties and enjoys alcohol as much as Charlie, which leads to a drinking camaraderie.
Charlie is awed by the duality of John's nature as the medicine man oozes a calming serenity while just below that soothing surface lies a disappointed outrage that occasionally surfaces. Soon the two buddies trek to a lodge near Binghamton where another medicine man, Joe Whiteshirt may have caused John's painful burns. When Charlie learns that his teenage daughter is pregnant, he is unable to cope so he accompanies John to Florida for a final showdown with Whiteshirt.
COUNTING COUP is an insightful look at two aging, acerbic individuals struggling with lost and wasted youth. The tale employs Native American mysticism and New Age elements to further contrast the theme of aging road warriors refusing to accept that life has past them by. Charlie and Jack are excellent characters whom readers will find interesting due to Jack Dann's in depth look at their flawed personalities that seems like a forecast of what boomers expecting to change the world for the better can contemplate will happen to them. Though a bit to New Agey at times, Mr. Dann can count coup with the many readers who will find this novel very fascinating.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Counting Coup |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story
- 1980's-1999
Inside culture (main char)
- American Indian
Internal struggle/realization?
Yes
Struggle over
- vague finding self/purpose in life (i.e. no plot to book)
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society)
- American Indian
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Druggie/Wino problems?
- alcohol
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Nationality
- American Indian
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- small businessman
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 4 ()
United States
Yes
The US:
- Southeast
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Unusual Style:
- a lot of stream of consciousness
- No single main character?
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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