Rating: 
Summary: A morose bit of literature
Review: So Long, See You Tomorrow is a morose little book that describes the dissolution of two families--neighboring tenant farmers in the rural Illinois of the 1920s--and the murder in which their shared misery culminates. The story, half remembered and half reconstructed, is narrated by an old man who was in his youth an acquaintance of the murderer's son.The story, told in plain, unremarkable prose, hosts more than its share of unhappiness--dead mothers and adultery and neglected children torn from one or another parent. There is also canine unhappiness, the imagined wretchedness of an imagined dog, whose loyalty and service is repaid with beatings and abandonment. So Long, See You Tomorrow has the feel of a high school English class must-read. That is to say, it is undoubtedly good literature, but it is not good reading.
Rating: 
Summary: An enjoyable, well-written book
Review: So Long, See You Tomorrow is probably the most perfect rendering of the tragic and embarrassing moments in childhood that I have ever read. William Maxwell's concise but beautifully written accounts of the losses and tragedies of a young boy growing up in the early 1900's are well-captured and elegant. The character relationships that he weaves througout the book are classic: the struggle between father and son, the uncertainty and fear between siblings, and the making and breaking of friendships. The narrator, who may be based on Maxwell himself, leads us through his own lonely childhood and then through the childhood of another boy who crossed his path by conjuring up such poignant images that if the reader can not recall living them himself, he can certainly feel the pain and embarrassment and see that little ten year old boy standing in front of the closet of his dead mother just to see her clothes and remember her. When discussing the book with my classmates, many of them thought that some characters were not as well developed as they should be, but the author did not write the book to show detailed characters from the narrator's past; the book is not only the story of a young boy, it is also an interesting examination of memory and stories. The fragments of memories and rumors, while leaving some characters with little development, construct a complicated and well developed main character in the narrator as well as tell the tragic and unsolved story to a murder. Amazingly enough, Maxwell accomplishes all of this in less than one hundred and fifty pages, a feat is refreshing and to be admired. The style is easy and concise, almost conversational, making So Long See You Tomorrow a very easy read while still being stimulating and thought provoking. So Long See You Tomorrow is an imaginative book that lets the reader step into the minds of young children, old men, young women, and even a dog without losing any of the keen perspective of the narrator. I've already read it numerous times, and I'm sure that I'll read it again.
Rating:
Summary: Do 'missed moments' have you down? Read this novel!
Review: Substitute. What does this word mean? What does the idea of substitution have to do with "So Long See You Tomorrow" by William Maxwell? Well, Everything! The idea of substitution is one of the key concepts you must recognize in "So Long, See You Tomorrow" to fully grasp the ideas that Maxwell is trying to convey. Believe me, it will be a difficult novel to understand if you do not tie substitution in to your reading of it. I hated this novel at first. This novel is a novel that is based on the memories of childhood that the narrator is describing. He has set out to appease his guilt and to set himself free of the mental torment he has placed upon himself due to the incidents that took place 50 years prior to the telling of the story. I did not understand how any of the ideas he (the narrator) was talking about had anything to do with the novel. Also, I found it quite difficult to determine the actual plot of the novel. You must remember that substitution plays a huge role in uncovering the truth to the plot of this novel. Everything in this novel represents a substitute for something that correlated in to the narrator's life. The narrator, now an old man, begins the novel by explaining his childhood and the lack of social ties that he had. His mother died when he was very young and his father, after marrying another woman, Grace, does not acknowledge him as much as he should. He lets him grow up, not feeling the warmth and support he should and this forces the narrator (whom I suspect is William Maxwell?) to explore life alone. He describes a relationship he has with a young boy, Cletus Smith, who plays with William in an unfinished house. The boys share an unspoken bond and this links the boys together. In one part of the novel William describes Cletus as an "imaginary friend come to life." Everyday after playing, the boys depart with their usual, "So long See you tomorrow." That would be the last thing the boys said to each other. Soon after, Cletus' dad murders his best friend/wife's lover, Lloyd Wilson. This murder will forever change the life of both Cletus and William. Maxwell does a fantastic job of setting up the scenes with Lloyd Wilson. The novel begins with the murder, which was the most confusing part of the novel for me. I could not understand why this was the first section of the novel, and why after that did the narrator become an actual character in the novel itself (the main character to be exact). The contrast between William(the narrator) and the murder of Lloyd Wilson occur in such a way that the reader is able to tie the two together, even though they had never met. I also see the "substitution" of William in the place of Cletus throughout the story. I think that is the main thing about the story that must be understood. William feels that he has the capabilities to help Cletus through this devistating time, but when the moment comes, he freezes. This missed moment in the hall at the school in Chicago is what makes this story relevant to the life of a much older narrator. The missed moment is what has been haunting the narrator for all of these years. Throughout the novel the one thing that remains constant is the narrator's feelings of guilt and shame for not helping Cletus, not saying a word to him in the passing in the hall. The way the narrator is able to create a whole scenario for the murder of Lloyd Wilson and tie that to the pain and misery of his past is what makes "So Long, See You Tomorrow" such a touching and intriguing book. If you are looking for a short novel that will fill your mind with information and flood your head with memories of your past when you had "missed moments" read this novel.
Rating:
Summary: A work of literary art!
Review: This is an excellent and engrossing novel that will captivate and draw you right into the story. On an early winter morning just before daybreak, three men hear a loud noise similar to a car backfiring. At first they dismiss it as just that, but it turns out to be a fatal shot that kills a farmer named Lloyd Wilson. The protagonist in the story was friends with the deceased man's son, Cletus. Using newspaper clippings, memories, and imagination, he tries to reconstruct the dramatic events that led to the shooting. Through the use of imagery, William Maxwell creates a story that is vivid in its depictions of rural life and the excruciating emotions people endure as a result of choices they make. This book takes the reader on a journey where one feels like a part of the world these people inhabit. The descriptive and evocative writing helps us to understand their pain and anxiety as we watch them live their lives. This is a terrific book and a great introduction to the literary talents of William Maxwell. Highly recommended!
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