Some Came Running

Some Came Running follows Dave Hirsh, a World War II veteran and aspiring writer who returns to his hometown of Parkman, Illinois in 1948. After failing to establish himself as an author in Chicago, Hirsh finds himself confronting his past in the small Midwestern town he left behind two decades earlier. The narrative centers on Dave's complex relationship with his successful brother Frank, who sent him to a boarding school as a child, and his attempts to navigate the social hierarchies of Parkman. Dave's status as both a local-born citizen and an outsider creates tension as he interacts with various members of the community. Social class, family dynamics, and artistic ambition drive this 1,266-page novel, which was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film starring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The book draws from Jones's own experiences returning to his Illinois hometown after World War II. Jones uses the post-war American small town setting to explore themes of alienation, the conflict between artistic authenticity and social acceptance, and the challenge of finding meaning in civilian life after experiencing war.

Readers describe Some Came Running as a raw, unflinching look at post-WWII small town life, though many find the 1,200+ page length excessive. Readers praise: - The realistic portrayal of veterans readjusting to civilian life - Complex character development, particularly Dave Hirsh and Ginnie - Authentic dialogue and local details - The honest depiction of 1940s social hierarchies Common criticisms: - Repetitive passages that could be cut by 30-40% - Experimental spelling and punctuation that interrupts flow - Too many subplots that don't advance the story - Pacing issues in the middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (416 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (98 ratings) "Jones captures the suffocating small-mindedness perfectly," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another reader comments, "The length nearly broke me, but the characters felt like real people I knew." Several reviews mention abandoning the book partway through due to its length, while noting they respected the writing quality.

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🔶 The 1958 novel was adapted into a major film starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Shirley MacLaine, with MacLaine receiving an Academy Award nomination for her role. 🔶 Author James Jones wrote the manuscript for "Some Came Running" while living in Paris, where he had moved to escape what he perceived as the stifling atmosphere of American literary society. 🔶 At 1,266 pages, the original published version was actually significantly shortened from Jones's first draft, which exceeded 2,000 pages. 🔶 The fictional town of Parkman, Illinois is based on Robinson, Illinois, Jones's actual hometown, where he returned after serving in World War II. 🔶 The book forms part of what is known as Jones's war trilogy, alongside "From Here to Eternity" and "The Thin Red Line," though it's the only one set entirely on American soil.