Poppa John (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Larry Woiwode
- First Published: 1981
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Self-discovery, United States or Americans, Acting or actors, Twentieth century, Religion, Identity, Television or television broadcasting, Old age or elderly people, Christmas
- Locales: New York
When compared with the massive Beyond the Bedroom Wall, Poppa John is shockingly short and is more a finely wrought character study than a novel. Consequently, Woiwode relies on subtle symbolism and poignant imagery to convey the story's essentially religious themes. The book takes its title from the character that aging actor Ned Daley has played for many years on a popular television soap opera. With his character's immense personal popularity beginning to overshadow the show itself, he is eventually written out of the show in a dramatic “death.” Now close to seventy,...
[The entire page is 1235 words long]
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