The Fireman's Fair

by Josephine Humphreys

Book Overview

In the aftermath of the storm of the century, Rob Wyatt, a thirty-two-year-old Charleston bachelor, finds himself assessing his life as well as his property damage. Life changes culminate at the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670839078
• ISBN13: 9780670839070
• Release Date: May 1991
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 263 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Fireman's Fair -- subtle, strong writing

I liked the Fireman's Fair the quotable thoughts written by Josephine Humphreys on water, pelicans, waitresses. Main character Rob Wyatt has left his job as an attorney and is also trying to break the many-years hold his longtime love (but married friend) Louise has over him. Louise is beautiful, smart, witty. But then Rob meets another woman who tests the hold Louise has on Rob, and he questions the measure of what he ever receives from her. The second woman is young, energetic and eccentric Billie Poe. Moments of revelation and quiet truths in this novel, and strong supporting characters in Rob's parents, brother, and best friend. Still my favorite is Humphrey's expository and descriptive writing -- love the insights (there are many more, but here's a short one) -- "You can get used to anything, but meanwhile it breaks your heart."

Look what a hurricane can do

Rob Wyatt, a lawyer in Charleston, SC, has been drifting through life, until a hurricane blows through and with its damage knocks him for a loop. But he soon meets 19-year-old Billie Poe, whom he helps out of a marriage and into his own life. Of course the novel is a voyage of self-discovery for Rob, especially regarding why he failed getting the girl of his life (Louise) before meeting Billie. I thought this book better than Humphreys's RICH IN LOVE but not as good as DREAMS OF SLEEP.

beautiful

This is a wonderful novel about a man who is sleeping through life, and then one day a hurricane hits. And the man decides that he doesn't really like the practice of law anymore, so he's going to do something about that. And the man's been fantasizing about women his entire life, and so now he's going to do something about that, too. A really remarkable book! One thing that's interesting about Humphreys work is that she focuses so strongly on one character. In this book we are privy to all of Rob's thoughts--and he has a lot of them!--but none of the other characters, and so they remain mysterious, both to us and to Rob. We're not sure why they do things. The hurricane, which one character calls an "act of God," strongly suggests that there are not only people, but forces Rob does not understand, and will never understand, let alone control.One imagines that the characters who interact with Rob in the book suspect that he is in the midst of a self-destructive part of his life--again, the hurricane metaphor--and yet we, who are privy to all his thoughts, realize that he is at his most alive, and in his center he is totally calm.Humphreys will get compared to Conroy a lot, as they are both from Charleston and write "Southern," but I think she is the more subtle of the two. Her characters are not as wounded (or their wounds are more hidden). Also Conroy's work is more extroverted, whereas Humphreys' work is more internal, and suggests deeper ideas, or not ideas so much as a hint of an idea. I am drawn to rereading this particular work, as the underlying hints are just as interesting as Humphreys' use of language. Fireman's Fair is one of my favorite books, a truly outstanding work of art.

A little beach music...

I read the Fireman's Fair for the first time seven years ago. This is one of those novels whose characters are so well fleshed-out that you feel as if you know them. I have read the novel, in full, at least three times -- and have opened it up and re-read favorite sections frequently, when I feel like picking up with Rob Wyatt and Billie Poe again. Josephine Humphries, PLEASE write more novels like this!

This book is the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Josephine Humphrey's paints an acurate picture of life in Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry of S.C. I would suggest this book to anyone who lives in or dreams of the sleepy S.C. coast. The characters are true to the region and the story. This book stirs those crazy dreams of leaving everything behind to start new. Humphreys is a welcomed breath of fresh air to S.C. authors shadowed by Conroy. I wish her the best and await her future work.