IRONWEED (Book Review)

IRONWEED
By:William Kennedy

The reason that I chose Ironweed out of all of the books to read was because when I read the summary about it, I was interested in the fact that ghosts of his past haunts him. I am really interested in books about ghosts and spirits etc. But, as I started to read this book, it began to have more meaning to just that. It shows how people can have an amazing life one minute and screw it up with just one thing. Or, they can have one of the worst lives ever and it can turn awesome in one minute. I like how this book shows improvement in all of the characters who, in fact, are all bums. Some take on their old careers, some just get jobs, and some pass on to a better life.
Towards the beginning of Ironweed, you meet the main character, 58 year old, Francis Phelan who is a bum just like almost every other character in this book. He recently worked as a gravedigger in the cemetery where most of his family is buried, including his 13 day old baby son, Gerald which he accidentally dropped. Throughout the whole story, the ghosts of Francis’ past haunt him, but not really in a bad way. They just sort of follow him around where he can see them. These ghosts include the two people that Francis killed when he was younger.
In my opinion, this book was actually really interesting although it does get confusing at times. If you don’t pay close attention to the book, you will have to go back and see which character is which and if they are alive or dead. But, the way William Kennedy explains everything is so fascinating to me. He describes everything in so much detail and makes it fun to read. If you don’t like books that include sex, bums, death, ghosts, and alcohol, then this book is not for you. But, if you are interested in reading about things like that like I am, then I think this is the book for you!