Post on 07-Nov-2015
description
moredetails... editdetails
Getacopy: KindleeBook Amazon onlinestores Libraries
OthereditionsEnlargecover
GoingNative
byStephenWright
GoingNativeisStephenWrightsdarklycomictakeontheroadnovel,inwhichonemansheadlongescapefromtheAmericanDreambecomeseverybodysworstnightmare.WylieJonesisset:lovelywife,beautifulkids,barbecuesinthebackyardofhistastefullydecoratedsuburbanChicagohousewithgoodfriends.Set,butnotsatisfied.Soonenighthejustwalksout,getsbeh...more
Paperback,320pagesPublishedApril12th2005byVintage(firstpublished1994)
Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook,pleasesignup.
ToaskotherreadersquestionsaboutGoingNative,pleasesignup.
BethefirsttoaskaquestionaboutGoingNative
Fiction 35users
Literature 7users
Humor 3users
Contemporary 3users
Modern 3users
Mystery 3users
Novels 3users
Literature>American 2users
American>AmericanFiction 2users
LiteraryFiction 2users
Seetopshelves...
Recommendit|Stats|Recentstatusupdates
StephenWright(born1946)isanovelistbasedinNewYorkCityknownforhisuseofsurrealisticimageryanddarkcomedy.Hisworkhasvariedfromhallucinatoryaccountsofwar(MeditationsinGreen),afamilydramaamongUFOcultists(M31:AFamilyRomance),carnivalesquenovelonaserialkiller(GoingNative),toapicaresquetakingplaceduringtheCivilWar("TheAmalgamationPolka").Hehas...more
MoreaboutStephenWright...
More
Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread.StartbymarkingGoingNativeasWanttoRead:
WanttoRead
WanttoReadRatethisbook
3.57 ratingdetails487ratings57reviews
FriendReviews
ReaderQ&A
ListswithThisBook
ReadersAlsoEnjoyed
Genres
AboutStephenWright
BooksbyStephenWright
ShareThisBook
register tour signinTitle/Author/ISBN Home MyBooks Friends Recommendations Explore
The75BooksEveryManShouldRead(fromEsquire)87thoutof88books44voters
LarryMcCaffery:The20thCentury'sGreatestHits(EnglishLanguage)85thoutof106books27voters
Morelistswiththisbook...
KrokZeroratedit reviewofanothereditionRecommendsitfor:pomophilesRecommendedtoKrokZeroby:MikeReynoldsfirst,thenahighplacementonLarryMcCaffery'stop100Shelves:winter10to11
Firstthing's,asusual,first:despitewhathisGoodreadsauthorpageindicates,StephenWrightthenovelistisnotthesameindividualasStevenWrightthedeadpanstandupcomedian.Itwouldbealmostinconceivablyawesomeifthiswerethecase,butitisnot.IhaveGoodreadslibrarianshipsoIguesstechnicallyIcouldfixthiserror,butIamabusyman*,anddonothavetimeforsuchmenialtasks.(*Iamnotabusyman.)
So.Bywayofforestallingmyreviewofthisgreatbook,andtoavoid...more
28likesLikeseereview
Drewratedit
Americaisdeaditjustdoesn'tknowityet.
Oratleastthat'swhatStephen"N.R."Wrightwouldhaveyoubelieve.Andhemostlymakesaconvincingandeloquentcase.Thebigstrengthofthisbook,atleastaccordingtome,isthefrenetic,chaoticyetprecisequalityofthewritingtheproseperfectlymatchestheideasthatWrightistryingtogetacross.Andit'sagoodthingtoo,becauseIthinktheideasthemselvesarealittletired.We'vereplacedmeaningwithentertainment?Learnedthat...more
8likesLikeseereview
VitBabencoratedit
Newsofhisinfamousscreenplayshehadbeenlisteningtoforthelastfiveyearsatleastanditschancesofsoonseeingthelightofday,letalonethelightofacinemascreen,wereaboutasgoodasherroaringoffintheaccordwiththepackedsuitcasethathadbeenlyinginwaitinthetrunkformostofadecade.Ifaestheticsofpopculturecinemawereappliedtotheeverydaylifetherealitywould'veturnedintoanightmare.Whatinthemovielookscaptivatinginlifewouldbehorror.But...more
7likesLikeseereview
AlanrateditRecommendedtoAlanby:MikeReynoldsandothersShelves:novels,readin2009
stillhummingwiththisone,three/fourdaysafterfinishingit.IsaidtoaGRfriendeachsectionwasliketakingadifferentunknowndrug,andwaitingtoseewhatthebuzzwasandmostlyyouweren'tdisappointed.It'stakenmeawhiletoorganisemythoughtsonit,andthenextbookEllroy'sMyDarkPlacessufferedfrombeingsodifferentitwaslikereadinganotherlanguage(althoughI'mfinewithitnow).ThisistheoppositeofEllroy'sminimal,staccatosentences:thisislush,hyperr...more
4likesLikeseereview
Pinkyratedit
It'sbeenabout8yearssinceIlastrereadthis,soIcan't/won'tsaymuchhereexcept:readit.(SinceDanChaon'sexcellentAwaitYourReplygoosedmymemoryofthisWright,I'mplanningtorereaditagain,too.)Ipickeduptheoriginalhardbackcoldin
(showing130of1,949)filter|sort:default(?)|ratingdetails
Morequotes
Tweet
0
+Shareonyourwebsite
Notriviaorquizzesyet.Addsomenow
Thesubterraneanlairofthewilyhumanrelationship:adarkmazeofpopupdemons,funhousemirrors,spookydeadends,multiplefalsebottoms.3likes
Anengagingdiscussionuponthenatureofthesoul,itsdefiningqualities,thepossibilityitmanifestsaspecificshape,thelikelihoodofitsintegritybeyondformaldehydeandflowers,speculationonitsabsencefromanunfortunatesumofmortalbeingssinceGod,atthemomentofcreation,releasedintotheuniverseafixednumberofsoulstoberecycledamongadiminishingpercentageofanexponentiallyexpandingpopulation,hencebodieswithoutsouls.2likes
CommunityReviews
Feb17,2011
Aug12,2013
Apr17,2015
Jul27,2009
Jul06,2009
0Like
3
TriviaAboutGoingNative
QuotesfromGoingNative
thebookstore,knowingnothingofitsauthor,andtookaquicklookatitsblurbs.DonDeLillo,ToniMorrison,RobertCoover.Whaaaa?Thebookmanagedtomeetconfidently,swaggeringlyexceededmyexpectationsgiventhatunlikelytrio.
2likesLikeseereview
Katherineratedit
Youhavenoideahowdifficultitisformetodo,butImquittingthisbookmidway.Itgoesagainsteveryfiberofmybeing.ButImtryingtoembracetheadviceofacoworkerstickingwithabookthatisnotforyouwastestimeinwhichyoucouldbereadingthenextbookyoulllove.
StephenWrightisawordsmithtobesure.SomethinginhispreciseandthoughtfulimagerymakesmethinkofDenisJohnsonsJesusSon.Andthatsahighcomplimentinmymind.Still,whileIpushedmyselfthrough...more
1likeLikeseereview
Tungratedit
StephenWrights(authorofMeditationsinGreen)thirdnovel,ifyoucancallitthat.Thebookstartswithanuppermiddleclasssuburbancoupleenjoyingabarbecuewithanotheruppermiddleclasssuburbancouple.Thedescriptionofthissceneisafantasticportraitofthebanalitiesofsuchalife.Oneofthemendisappearsandcantbefoundandthesceneends.Thenextsceneisadescriptionofaboyfriendandgirlfriendwhoareaddictedtocrack.Theendofthatsceneinvolvestheboyfr...more
1likeLikeseereview
Kylieratedit
AtfirstIabsolutelydespisedthisbook.IwasforcedtoreaditformyInterpretationofLiteratureclass.Originally,Ifoundthewritingtobeincrediblypretentious.AfterreadingfurtherintothebookandbecomingmoreaccustomedtoWright'swritingIstartedtolikethebook.
IreallyenjoyedWright'sideasaboutpopculturebeingareflectionofprimaldesires.ThroughoutthebookthereismanyHollywoodreferences,andthereadercanseejusthowinfluentialpopcultureisonthecharact...more
1likeLikeseereview
DavidrateditShelves:21stcentury,crime,crimenoirfiction,fiction,literature,thriller,usa
CouldneverquiteengagewithGoingNative.
ThewritingwasgoodtheproductplacementalittletediousasitwaswithAmericanPsychoandFightClubthecharacterizationsnotquitecookiecutterbutclosetothis.Thestory,thoughengaging,couldnotquiteovercometheseotherdefects.
Therearethosewhowill,andhave,enjoyedthisbookverymuchandMr.Wright'sGoingNativeisabookwhichdeservesawideaudience,eventoday,butthisreadercouldneverquitefindawayintothecharac...more
Likeseereview
AlexanderWeberrateditShelves:mccafferys20thcenturysgreatest
Atfirst,Ididn'tcaremuchforthedifferentcharactersandstoriesthatwerebeingintroducedwitheverychapter.Thefirstchapter,whichintroducesustoourmainprotagonist,wasreallygreat.Fromthere,Ifeltthechapterswerejustshortvignettes/storiesIwasreadingthrough,notpeopleoreventsIwasconnectingwith.Then,maybehalfway,youstarttogetintohowthisbookisbeingpresented,andbythesecondlastchapter(whichis80pages(morethan1/4ofthebook))whichon...more
Likeseereview
BrianWaderatedit reviewofanothereditionShelves:2011,blownawayinagoodway,locallibrary,manfiction,esquires75
GoingNativeisviolent,dangerous.AttimesitreadslikeEllis'sAmericanPsychosetinthe90s.ThisisanotherbookthatismuchmoreenjoyablethelesstheReaderknows
Nov23,2013
Jan09,2008
Mar12,2013
Feb10,2015
Oct23,2014
Jul19,2011
abouttheplot,structure,etc.InretrospectIwishIhadn'tevenreadtheinsidedustjacket.Althoughrelativelysuperficial,eventhejacketgivesawaytoomuch.I'mprettysureIwouldhavegivenGoingNative5starsifIhadknownabsolutelynothingaboutthestorypriortostartingit.
Iwouldreallyenjoyreviewinga...more
Likeseereview
JrateditShelves:fiction,mccaffery
Dense,haunting,cynical,impressive.Somebooks,whenyoureachtheend,tauntyoutojuststartrightoveragain,andthisbookwasoneofthemwhatexactlywasthejourneyofWylieJones,andwhydidhispathintersectwiththelivesofthesepeople?Thestoryisstructurednotsothatwearerunningamarathon,butthatwearestandingbythesideoftheroadwatchingamarathon,andeachtimeweseetherunnerswearegettingbackintoourcarsanddrivingtothenextlocationtocatchthe...more
Likeseereview
Schuylerratedit reviewofanotheredition
ClickonStephenWrightandGoodreadshasanicebioonthedrycomic,StephenWright.ThisisnotthesameStephenWright.Atfirst,Iwaslike,"Wait,thedryironiccomicStephenWrightwroteseveralworksofpostmodernishfiction?"Well,no,hedidn't,andhespellshisname"Steven"not"Stephen".Nowthatwegotthatoutoftheway.
Mostreviewsreferencethisasa"horror"typenovel,andevenDeLillocallsita"slasherclassic".Iguess.Itdidn'tstrikemeaparticularlyviolentnovel....more
Likeseereview
Mattratedit
Youknowthatideayouhave,aboutthenovelthat'snotreallyanovelexactly,butnotacollectionofstorieseither,inwhichyoufollowsomeobject(likeacar)asittransfersfromownertoowner?Yeah,well,aboutthat...StephenWrightalreadydidit.
Butdon'tworry,there'sstillroomintheworldforyourmasterpiece.Or,roominadifferentworldtheoneWrightlivesinisprobablynotethesameasyourshisismoreunnervingandchaoticandviolentandawful.Sowriteaway!(Therei...more
Likeseereview
Tocotinratedit reviewofanothereditionShelves:myownbooks,icanhasslash,usedbooks,contemporaryliterature
AtfirstIlikedthebookimmensely,itstartedwithabackyardpartyoftwomarriedcouples,peoplewhoclearlyweren'tfeelingcomfortableintheirlives.ThenoneoftheguysdisappearedandIthoughtthiswouldbethestartingpointofastory.Itwas,inaway,butwhereIhadexpectedanovel,Igotastringofvignettesaboutlivesofabunchofpeople,livesconnectedonlybythechameleonlikeappearancesoftheguywhohaddisappearedinthefirstchapter.
Someofthestoriesweremild...more
Likeseereview
GusSanchezratedit
Notsomuchanovelas8shortstorieswithacentralthemeoflosingone'sidentity,GoingNativeisagritty,hardedged,brilliantworkofpostmoderndread,expertlywordedbyStephenWright.ThenovelrevolvesaroundthecharacterofWylieJones,amanwhoseeminglyhasitall:abeautifulhome,awellpayingjob,awife,2children.Duringaseeminglyinaneparty,Wyliesuddenlystealshisneighborsbattered'65FordGalaxie500andjustdisappears.ThesubsequentstoriestellofWylie'sd...more
Likeseereview
Unbridledratedit reviewofanotheredition
Thebook'scoverfeaturesaquotefromMichikoKakutanioftheNewYorkTimes:"Anuncompromising1990'sversionofOntheRoad...chillingandoftenbrilliant."Withthisblurb,howeveroutofcontextthisblurbmightbe,Ms.Kakutani,whohasneverbeena
Sep10,2012
Sep09,2010
Aug26,2009
Jan07,2011
May25,2011
Oct06,2011
favoriteofmine,hasearnedmyeternalcontempt.Oftenbrilliant?OntheRoad?HasshereadOntheRoad?GoingNativeistoOntheRoadasKakutaniistoLionelTrilling(whichisnotfairtoTrilling)i.e.,notatall.
Liketheamateur,thi...more
Likeseereview
Jimmieratedit
Ididn'tthinkthisstoryreadwell.ithadinterestingtidbitslikeallthepopculturereferencesandmanyofthecharactersbeingnamedaftercartooncharacters,butthestorydidn'tfeellikeastorybutrathermanyscenesplacedtogether.Ididnotcareforit,butthoughtitwasinterestingseparately.
Likeseereview
AbsurdfarcerateditShelves:literature
GoingNativeisoftendescribedasadarkversionoftheAmerican"roadnovel",America'scultureofviolencerenderedthroughaseriesofpainfulsceneslooselyconnectedbyanarrativethread.Thebookwouldbecompellingforthesereasonsalonebuttheauthor'sastonishingprosemakesitsomuchmore.Wright'sstyleisbestdescribedasarapidfiresequenceofimagesandthoughts,anampedupstreamofconsciousness.Theeffectistocompletelyimmersethereaderintothesceneonedoesn't...more
Likeseereview
Justinratedit
Storyofaguywhobailsonhissuburbanfamily,stealsacarandsetsoffonanincreasinglyviolentandcriminalexpeditionacrossAmerica.Soundsawesome,right?Butsomehow,itkindofwasn't.Thewritingisvirtuosicwhenhedescribes,forinstance,aguysmokingcrack,itactuallymakesyouwanttotryitbutinsomeplacesIfelttheprosewasalittletoolayeredandcomplex,inthatPynchonesquewaywherethere'ssomuchgoingonthatyoucan'ttellwhat'sactuallygoingon.Butthere...more
Likeseereview
JudeJosephLovellratedit
Oneofmytop5novelsofalltime.Itisbrilliant.ThisauthorisCRIMINALLYundersungandunknown.AterrifyingandveryhonestbookabouttheAmericannightmare.
Likeseereview
Lostinanovelratedit
Thisreadsmuchmorelikeaseriesofshortstoriesthananovelbutabitfrustratingbecausethestoriesfeelunfinished.Ididn'tliketheshadowynatureofthemaincharacterthatweaklylinkedthestoriestogether.IalsowasabitconfusedregardingthethemeofAmericansbeinganationofvoyeurs.LotsofreferencestoHollywoodandthereaderoftenfeelslikeavoyeur,butthecharactersthemselveshavefacinatinglivesthemselvesandarenottvzombiesintheleast.
Despitemycriticism,...more
Likeseereview
Haleyratedit reviewofanotheredition
Callingit.Gotabouthalfwaythroughandlifeisjusttooshorttospendonbadbooks.EvenifI'vehadthemonmyTBRfor6years.Nope.
Likeseereview
Mikeratedit reviewofanotheredition
Areallygoodread,evenifattimesitfeelsalittledisjointedoroverlonginitsepisodes.WylieJonesisthemaincharacter,thoughheismostlyspectralthanactualinthesensethatweneverreallyseehim,exceptinthefirstchapterandthefinalchapter.
TheironyofWylie'sfinalappearanceisthatheseemstoberightbackwherehestartedinadeadend.ThenovelendshereandthereaderischallengedtoimaginewhereWylie
Aug16,2014
Apr29,2012
Nov19,2011
Oct31,2014
Jan23,2013
May17,2015
Apr30,2011
willgonext...anythingispossible.
Mr.Wrightweavesinter...more
Likeseereview
Steveratedit
Amasterworkwritteninbrilliant,hallucinatoryprose.
Inaseriesofshortstories,Wrighttakesajourneyacrossdark,innersouloftheUnitedStates.Thestoriesarelinkedjustenoughtothemaincharacter'sownjourneythatyoucancallitanovel.But'smoreaweird,almostdruggyexplorationoftheAmericanmindsetattheendofthe20thCentury.
Wright'sstyleiswonderfullycrafted,fullofimageryandinvention.It'snotaneasybook,butit'sreallyinterestingtoexplore.It's"Heart...more
Likeseereview
Benratedit
Adazzlingnovelbyoneofourbestwriters.Discussed(alongwithWright'sMeditationsinGreen)onmyblog:
http://friedfetusdream.wordpress.com/...
Likeseereview
MarckBaileyratedit reviewofanotheredition
WhatIdon'tunderstandaboutthisbookiswhyitisconsideredanovel.Itfeelsmuchmorelikeeightseparatestories,withlittleifanycarryoverfromonechaptertothenext.Noneofwhichshouldtakeawaythesheer,thick,gloriousprosethatWrightcanturnout.IfinishedthisbookfourweeksagoasIwritethis,andI'mwellontootherbooks,butitisclearthatmyownwritingis*still*heavilyinfluencedbytherhythmsandcomplexsentencestructuresthatIentrainedtowhilereadin...more
Likeseereview
Zachratedit
2.5Stars.
Greatsentencesstrungtogetherwithinlooselyconnectedvignettesdoesnot=anovel.Plotmatters,charactersmatter.Notbeingboringmatters.Thisbookisbeautifullywritten,andextrakudostoWrightforcomingoffpurposefullymeretriciousandnotdarkandcorny,butIfoundthis"genrebending,slasherclassicblahblahblahthrillride..."tobetedious,and,exceptforthesentencesandparagraphs,notparticularlyclever.
Likeseereview
JamieGreferateditShelves:literaryfiction
Secondread:AnAmericainlovewithtelevisionandfilm,particularly"bad"film,howtheimagehasseepedthroughthescreenandsmeareditselfacrossthemindofWylie,ourmaincharacter,amanwetrackfromominousdinnerpartytothefoldsofthiscinematizedAmerica.WrightwriteswithaloveofEnglish.Thestoryunfolds,allowsimmersion,anditsabrightprose,atechnicolorexperiencelikealiteraryBmovie.Howgreatitis.
Likeseereview
TodWodickaratedit
Exhausting,numbing,occasionallyjawdroppinglybrilliant.Somepassagessing.Othersrant,ramble,flail.Thisbookiscold.RemindedmealittleofRobertStone'sdarkerworksbutstrippedofwhatmakesStonesopleasurable:plot,mostly,Isuppose!Or...DeLillowithouttherestraintorprecision?Wright'sgotwaytoomuchofagoodthingmaybe.I'mverycurious/excitedtoreadhisothernovels.
Likeseereview
previous1234567896465next
Sep17,2014
Jul11,2014
Oct01,2008
Apr12,2011
Sep05,2012
Apr01,2013
Therearenodiscussiontopicsonthisbookyet.Bethefirsttostartone
2015GoodreadsInc aboutus advertise authorprogram jobs api ourblog terms privacy help switchto: mobileversion
newtopicDiscussThisBook