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Crum Trilogy #2
Screaming with the Cannibals
Screaming with the Cannibals, the much anticipated sequel to Lee Maynard’s cult classic Crum, gets its title when the central character finds himself in an evangelical service in Kentucky on the other side of the Tug River from his native West Virginia. As the folks touched by the Spirit rave and howl, he remembers how, back in Crum, the folks used to tell him to stay on his side of the river, because the people on the other side were known to eat their children. And now, here he is in a Kentucky holy-roller church, screaming with the cannibals. Since the first novel, our protagonist has visited the West Virginia holler where his family lived before he moved up to the greater sophistication of Crum, and there he discovers that his favorite uncle has disappeared from the face of the earth in a moonshining accident. He then meets the girl who makes the earth – or at least the hay loft – move for him, quite literally falling for her. From there he goes to Kentucky, and then to Myrtle Beach, where he gets hired as a lifeguard, although he cannot swim a stroke. If Crum is (as many have said) West Virginia’s answer to J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, then Screaming with the Cannibals is Appalachia’s response to John Updike’s Rabbit Run.
- GenresFiction
276 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2003
6 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Lee Maynard
10 books26 followersLee Maynard was born and raised in the hardscrabble ridges and hard-packed mountains of West Virginia, an upbringing that darkens and shapes much of his writing
Maynard's novel, Crum, was the first original fiction published by Washington Square Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. In its first month of publication, the novel rose to No. 8 on the Doubleday Best Seller List. The novel has been taught in English literature classes in a score of prestigious universities. Sometimes called "the book that wouldn't die", Crum was republished by Vandalia Press (a commercial imprint of West Virginia University Press) in the summer of 2001. It was the first book published by Vandalia and within a year became the best selling book in the history of the university.
The National Endowment for the Arts awarded a Literary Fellowship in Fiction to Maynard for Crum's sequel, Screaming With The Cannibals (volume II of a trilogy), published by Vandalia Press in 2002. The third and last volume of the trilogy, The Scummers, will be published by Vandalia in spring, 2012.
Maynard's latest novel, The Pale Light of Sunset, a work of creative nonfiction, was published by Vandalia in October 2009. His latest novel, Cinco Becknell, is now available on Kindle.
Maynard's short fiction has appeared in such publications as Columbia Review of Literature, Appalachian Heritage and the literary magazine, Kestrel.
As a journalist, Maynard was an assignment writer for Reader's Digest for more than two decades. His journalism and non-fiction work has appeared more than 100 times in publications as diverse as The Saturday Review, Rider Magazine, Washington Post, Country America, Dual Sport News and Christian Science Monitor.
Much of Maynard's work is highly controversial. His novel, Crum, was banned in his home state and, even today, stirs deep, conflicting emotions among the people of Appalachia. Nevertheless, Maynard's work has been critically acclaimed. His prose has been held in comparison to Hemingway, Twain, Harris, Faulkner and Salinger.
Specializing in the novel, Maynard has taught at many national and regional workshops, including the Appalachian Writers Workshop, Southwest Writers Workshop, and West Virginia Writers Conference. He has served as Writing Master at Allegheny Echoes.
Maynard has been a management and editorial consultant to newspapers, magazines and small publishing companies, and was once a college president. An avid outdoorsman, he is a mountaineer, sea kayaker, skier and former professional river runner. He once rode a motorcycle from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the Arctic Circle. He lives near Santa Fe.
Maynard's novel, Crum, was the first original fiction published by Washington Square Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. In its first month of publication, the novel rose to No. 8 on the Doubleday Best Seller List. The novel has been taught in English literature classes in a score of prestigious universities. Sometimes called "the book that wouldn't die", Crum was republished by Vandalia Press (a commercial imprint of West Virginia University Press) in the summer of 2001. It was the first book published by Vandalia and within a year became the best selling book in the history of the university.
The National Endowment for the Arts awarded a Literary Fellowship in Fiction to Maynard for Crum's sequel, Screaming With The Cannibals (volume II of a trilogy), published by Vandalia Press in 2002. The third and last volume of the trilogy, The Scummers, will be published by Vandalia in spring, 2012.
Maynard's latest novel, The Pale Light of Sunset, a work of creative nonfiction, was published by Vandalia in October 2009. His latest novel, Cinco Becknell, is now available on Kindle.
Maynard's short fiction has appeared in such publications as Columbia Review of Literature, Appalachian Heritage and the literary magazine, Kestrel.
As a journalist, Maynard was an assignment writer for Reader's Digest for more than two decades. His journalism and non-fiction work has appeared more than 100 times in publications as diverse as The Saturday Review, Rider Magazine, Washington Post, Country America, Dual Sport News and Christian Science Monitor.
Much of Maynard's work is highly controversial. His novel, Crum, was banned in his home state and, even today, stirs deep, conflicting emotions among the people of Appalachia. Nevertheless, Maynard's work has been critically acclaimed. His prose has been held in comparison to Hemingway, Twain, Harris, Faulkner and Salinger.
Specializing in the novel, Maynard has taught at many national and regional workshops, including the Appalachian Writers Workshop, Southwest Writers Workshop, and West Virginia Writers Conference. He has served as Writing Master at Allegheny Echoes.
Maynard has been a management and editorial consultant to newspapers, magazines and small publishing companies, and was once a college president. An avid outdoorsman, he is a mountaineer, sea kayaker, skier and former professional river runner. He once rode a motorcycle from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the Arctic Circle. He lives near Santa Fe.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 21, 2025
Scappare
Questo romanzo dal titolo stravagante è il seguito di “Lontano da Crum”, con un incipit che coincide esattamente col finale del libro precedente: Jesse, determinato ad andarsene per sempre (?) dal luogo dell’infanzia e adolescenza, cerca un passaggio sulla Statale munito di una valigia di cartone e poco altro.
Quanto ai “cannibali” del titolo, non si tratta che del nomignolo affibbiato dagli abitanti di Crum (West Virginia) ai teppisti del Kentucky che, dall’altra riva del fiume di confine fra i due stati, sono soliti bersargliarli di pietre, quando va bene e non hanno un fucile a pallini a portata di mano…
Comincia così sul ciglio della Statale, l’unica via che costeggia il miserando borgo di Crum, il lungo viaggio del protagonista, ennesimo “vagabondo in cerca di fortuna” che percorre le strade e la narrativa americana, una lunga fila di solitari sradicati le cui gesta e peripezie sono state raccontate in varie forme da Mark Twain, Salinger, Kerouac, Updike e altri fino al Demon Copperhead di Barbara Kingsolver, l’ultimo in cui mi sia imbattuto finora.
Per potersi distinguere in una compagnia così folta e autorevole lungo sentieri alla lettera particolarmente battuti, occorrono doti di originalità fuori dal comune e Maynard trova la sua peculiarità e il suo marchio di fabbrica in uno stile diretto caratterizzato da un linguaggio molto esplicito, ruvido e sboccato, ma anche ironico e divertente, senza escludere scene di sesso ed episodi di violenza alternati a pause di apparente pace e serenità che danno a Jesse l’illusoria e fugace sensazione di aver trovato il suo posto nel mondo.
Romanzo di fuga e on the road quindi, ma anche di formazione per un ragazzo che, dal West Virginia al Kentucky fino alle coste della South Carolina dove addirittura troverà un lavoro di bagnino, paradossale per un montanaro degli Appalachi, sarà sempre alla ricerca di cibo, denaro, sesso, forse amore, e con l’ansia di sopravvivere sfuggendo a coloro che amano perseguitare quelli come lui, nella fattispecie un predicatore fuori di testa o un feroce e spietato vicesceriffo.
Alla fine, così come è fuggito da Crum al termine del precedente romanzo, Jesse abbandonerà anche tutti questi luoghi, non solo perché braccato ma soprattutto alla ricerca di libertà e futuro, poiché “C’è una Crum sepolta nel profondo della maggior parte di noi… può essere diversa per ciascuno di noi, un luogo così penoso, così vacuo, così veritiero, così estremo, così oscuro, così abrasivo, così formante, così maledettamente formante che esiste una sola cosa che vi può venire in mente di fare. Scappare”.
Questo romanzo dal titolo stravagante è il seguito di “Lontano da Crum”, con un incipit che coincide esattamente col finale del libro precedente: Jesse, determinato ad andarsene per sempre (?) dal luogo dell’infanzia e adolescenza, cerca un passaggio sulla Statale munito di una valigia di cartone e poco altro.
Quanto ai “cannibali” del titolo, non si tratta che del nomignolo affibbiato dagli abitanti di Crum (West Virginia) ai teppisti del Kentucky che, dall’altra riva del fiume di confine fra i due stati, sono soliti bersargliarli di pietre, quando va bene e non hanno un fucile a pallini a portata di mano…
Comincia così sul ciglio della Statale, l’unica via che costeggia il miserando borgo di Crum, il lungo viaggio del protagonista, ennesimo “vagabondo in cerca di fortuna” che percorre le strade e la narrativa americana, una lunga fila di solitari sradicati le cui gesta e peripezie sono state raccontate in varie forme da Mark Twain, Salinger, Kerouac, Updike e altri fino al Demon Copperhead di Barbara Kingsolver, l’ultimo in cui mi sia imbattuto finora.
Per potersi distinguere in una compagnia così folta e autorevole lungo sentieri alla lettera particolarmente battuti, occorrono doti di originalità fuori dal comune e Maynard trova la sua peculiarità e il suo marchio di fabbrica in uno stile diretto caratterizzato da un linguaggio molto esplicito, ruvido e sboccato, ma anche ironico e divertente, senza escludere scene di sesso ed episodi di violenza alternati a pause di apparente pace e serenità che danno a Jesse l’illusoria e fugace sensazione di aver trovato il suo posto nel mondo.
Romanzo di fuga e on the road quindi, ma anche di formazione per un ragazzo che, dal West Virginia al Kentucky fino alle coste della South Carolina dove addirittura troverà un lavoro di bagnino, paradossale per un montanaro degli Appalachi, sarà sempre alla ricerca di cibo, denaro, sesso, forse amore, e con l’ansia di sopravvivere sfuggendo a coloro che amano perseguitare quelli come lui, nella fattispecie un predicatore fuori di testa o un feroce e spietato vicesceriffo.
Alla fine, così come è fuggito da Crum al termine del precedente romanzo, Jesse abbandonerà anche tutti questi luoghi, non solo perché braccato ma soprattutto alla ricerca di libertà e futuro, poiché “C’è una Crum sepolta nel profondo della maggior parte di noi… può essere diversa per ciascuno di noi, un luogo così penoso, così vacuo, così veritiero, così estremo, così oscuro, così abrasivo, così formante, così maledettamente formante che esiste una sola cosa che vi può venire in mente di fare. Scappare”.
January 30, 2020
All in all, disappointing. This books characters and plot were too black and white and simplistic for me to enjoy the book even though I enjoyed its predecessor, “Crumb“.
The main character, Jesse, must have a extremely scarred body considering how many times he’s been ground into the gravel or beat up in some manner or form. Somehow all the women he meets are very attractive and have perfect breasts. And the author also uses the trope I tire of... “underneath it all he is a good person because he likes books”! I could go on... Give me a break!
The author also spends numerous passages where he has flashbacks to recall events from his first book, which did not work for me and it just detracted from the narrative. Somehow some of the protagonist’s antics of youth that were fun in Crum, became criminal in this book and I found it impossible to believe that he could get out of the situations he found himself in at the end of the book. Just not believable enough for me.
I Recommend reading “Yaaresse’s” review. He had similar thoughts as I did, but he was much more eloquent.
The main character, Jesse, must have a extremely scarred body considering how many times he’s been ground into the gravel or beat up in some manner or form. Somehow all the women he meets are very attractive and have perfect breasts. And the author also uses the trope I tire of... “underneath it all he is a good person because he likes books”! I could go on... Give me a break!
The author also spends numerous passages where he has flashbacks to recall events from his first book, which did not work for me and it just detracted from the narrative. Somehow some of the protagonist’s antics of youth that were fun in Crum, became criminal in this book and I found it impossible to believe that he could get out of the situations he found himself in at the end of the book. Just not believable enough for me.
I Recommend reading “Yaaresse’s” review. He had similar thoughts as I did, but he was much more eloquent.
September 4, 2024
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Con "Urlando con i cannibali", Lee Maynard ci trascina in un viaggio tumultuoso attraverso il Sud degli Stati Uniti. Ritroviamo Jesse, fuggito da Crum nella speranza di trovare qualcosa di meglio delle montagne del West Virginia, ma ancora in fuga da qualcosa di più profondo di un semplice luogo geografico.
Nonostante sia il secondo volume della Trilogia di Crum, è un romanzo che può essere letto anche da solo, perché i continui flashback del passato ci regalano una bella diapositiva della vita di Jesse. L’ho trovato più ricco di contenuti, con riflessioni profonde sulla condizione umana, ma senza rinunciare all’umorismo tagliente che avevo già trovato nel primo volume.
Jesse si trova ad affrontare pregiudizi razziali, sperimentare il calore della controversa ospitalità del Sud, e vivere situazioni tanto comiche quanto tragiche. Tra incontri assurdi e riflessioni amare, Maynard ci regala ancora una volta un protagonista complesso e avventuroso, che ricorda un moderno Huck Finn, immerso nella realtà dura e cruda del XX secolo.
Con "Urlando con i cannibali", Lee Maynard ci trascina in un viaggio tumultuoso attraverso il Sud degli Stati Uniti. Ritroviamo Jesse, fuggito da Crum nella speranza di trovare qualcosa di meglio delle montagne del West Virginia, ma ancora in fuga da qualcosa di più profondo di un semplice luogo geografico.
Nonostante sia il secondo volume della Trilogia di Crum, è un romanzo che può essere letto anche da solo, perché i continui flashback del passato ci regalano una bella diapositiva della vita di Jesse. L’ho trovato più ricco di contenuti, con riflessioni profonde sulla condizione umana, ma senza rinunciare all’umorismo tagliente che avevo già trovato nel primo volume.
Jesse si trova ad affrontare pregiudizi razziali, sperimentare il calore della controversa ospitalità del Sud, e vivere situazioni tanto comiche quanto tragiche. Tra incontri assurdi e riflessioni amare, Maynard ci regala ancora una volta un protagonista complesso e avventuroso, che ricorda un moderno Huck Finn, immerso nella realtà dura e cruda del XX secolo.
April 2, 2016
Screaming with the Cannibals suffers a little from "sequel syndrome" and simply isn't as entertaining as Maynard's first book, Crum. Not only does Maynard spend far too much time rehashing the first book of the series, but Jesse, whom one assumes is Maynard's fictional alter-ego, spends most of his time thinking about his prick. Granted, he's a teen-aged boy, but it gets old fast.
What kept me reading is that in those rare moments when Jesse can take his mind off his gonads, Maynard gives us some wonderful passages about the places Jesse sees and the problems he grapples with as a teen coming of age in the 1950s south.
Given how many times Jesse gets hit in the head in this book, I'm surprised there is a third in the series. You'd think he be brain dead by now. Because I do enjoy Maynard's writing style and appreciation of the absurdity of small town life, I'll give the third book a try, but I'm hoping it is more like Crum and less like this sequel.
What kept me reading is that in those rare moments when Jesse can take his mind off his gonads, Maynard gives us some wonderful passages about the places Jesse sees and the problems he grapples with as a teen coming of age in the 1950s south.
Given how many times Jesse gets hit in the head in this book, I'm surprised there is a third in the series. You'd think he be brain dead by now. Because I do enjoy Maynard's writing style and appreciation of the absurdity of small town life, I'll give the third book a try, but I'm hoping it is more like Crum and less like this sequel.
November 22, 2014
Book Two of the "Crum Trilogy." Follows the life of Jesse Stone escaping from the hills of West Virginia. Jesse mostly encounters racial prejudice, but battles good ole boy Southern hospitality as he learns about life on the flat-lands of the Carolina coast. Though I grew up in a racially segregated and prejudiced environment, I connect more with Jesse's attitude. Good people are good people. Bad people are worth battling no matter the bruises and battering received. Every once in a while you get a chance at some vengeance. And every once in a while you discover someone in your broken past really loved you.
October 12, 2012
I know.....5 stars. Right? This book was such a winner for me. Jesse finally escaping WV only to end up in Myrtle Beach......Sounds like Appalachia to me. I understand this character and his need to escape WV. A very meaningful book to me. Can't wait for The Scummers (book 3) to make it to my mailbox!
December 9, 2007
I liked this one even better than its predecessor, which was largely a book full of some hilarious and amusing anecdotes. This one is more plot driven and follows an awesome adventure through the South.
April 23, 2009
The sequel to "Crum," you'll laugh until you hurt when you read the revival scene! Oh,my . . .
October 8, 2012
Entertaining but didn't have the essence that made Crum so enjoyable - despite most of this book being taken directly from Crum!
September 24, 2023
A fabulous novel about the human condition. It has the feel of an autobiography of a working class young man from hardscrabble Crum, West Virginia. Billed as the sequel to Crum, Maynard's first novel, Screaming with the Cannibals starts out in Black Hawk Ridge with Jesse visiting his relatives. His uncle is a moonshiner. And he suddenly dies in an accident. Jesse hitches rides to Kentucky, where Lard, a huge farm worker, helps him get a job on Eli's farm. Luther, a neighbor, has a flirtatious wife named Ruth Ellen. There's an hilarious scene of Jesse having a sexual encounter with Ruth. In any event, Jesse leaves the farm for South Carolina on an old Triumph motorcycle. At the beach he lands a gig as a lifeguard, which he knows little about. The novel is funny throughout. Yet tragic at times. A reviewer compared it to John Updike's Rabbit Run, and I can see it but Maynard's work is more humorous. And more quixotic.
January 26, 2022
Another great adventure courtesy of Mr. Maynard's pen. As with "Crum", some of us have actually done some of these things.
April 9, 2017
This recommendation comes with a warning. This book is not for easily offended. It's a complex book but one with a good amount of swears, sex scenes, and racial epithets. In earnest, it feels like Huck Finn reinvented for the middle of the 20th century. However, what's most enjoyable is the audiobook where Ross Ballard II of Mountain Whispers Audiobooks plays the producer, director, and narrator making it a fantastic listening experience. I actually had the opportunity to interview Ross and that will be published in the near future. To be forewarned, this is a sequel to the book, Crum, but you can still pick this one up and listen to it without missing much.
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd /
If you enjoyed this review, feel free to check out my other reviews and writings at By Any Other Nerd /
October 26, 2012
This was an excellent second book in the series following the main character out of West Virginia into Kentucky and then down to the coast of South Carolina. Trouble just seems to follow this kid even when he has the best of intentions. I'm looking forward to reading the third & final book.
November 16, 2010
Original, gritty wild-ride, if somewhat oversexed.
March 12, 2024
"A metà strada fra Il giovane Holden di J. D. Salinger e Corri, coniglio di John Updike", dice la terza di copertina.
Io direi meno, parecchio meno.
Io direi meno, parecchio meno.
December 17, 2014
I gave up because i didn't want to read anymore about the protagonist's scrotum. I just can't.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews