How can a book with such a killer intro be so impossibly boring?

“Elmer Gantry was drunk. He was eloquently drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk.”

This opening line seems to promise a wild and exciting story. One would expect a character like Elmer Gantry, described in such vivid terms, to embark on a series of adventures. However, it tumbles down hill from there.

The story fails to live up to the potential set by its introduction. Sinclair, the author, seems to have dropped the ball.

Perhaps he was unable to sustain the momentum or develop the characters in a more engaging way. Whatever the reason, the result is a book that is disappointingly dull.

It's a shame, really, because the intro had so much promise. But as they say, you can't judge a book by its cover - or its first line.

This is a very good book. However, I felt compelled to subtract a star due to what I perceive as the unnecessary wordiness in certain parts. I am 60 years old, and it has recently dawned on me that if I ever hope to read everything that is truly worth reading, I had better get cracking. As a result, I became impatient, especially towards the end, with all the long, philosophical discourses. But that's just me; perhaps others might glean a great deal from them.

It's a good story about a thoroughly despicable character. The best line in the book, for me, is when one character says in a dialog, "If I knew that you could lose your intellectual pride, if you could forget that you have to make a new world, better than the Creator's, right away tonight--you and Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells and H.L. Mencken and Sinclair Lewis (Lord, how that book of Lewis', 'Main Street', did bore me, as much of it as I could read; it just rambled on forever, and all you could see was where some of the Gopher Prairie don't go to literary teas as much as he does! --that was all he could see among those splendid heroic pioneers)!"

I guess Lewis was already aware of some of his own long-windedness, and I find it rather charming that he pokes a bit of fun at himself in this verbose tome!

I read Elmer Gantry when I was 16 years old.

I borrowed my older sister's college paperback.

I've never forgotten the powerful language and the profound impact of Lewis's novel.

It left a lasting impression on me.

And a decade later, at the urging of a friend, I watched Jim Baker on TV.

Instantly, I recognized him for what he truly was.

His actions and behavior seemed to mirror some of the characters in Lewis's works.

Now that I'm retired, I'm planning to reread all of Lewis's novels.

I'm looking forward to rediscovering the depth and complexity of his writing.

Perhaps this time, with more life experience under my belt, I'll gain even more insights from his works.

Rereading Lewis will be like taking a journey back in time and also a new exploration of the human condition.

I can't wait to embark on this literary adventure.

First thoughts

The initial impression of this work is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, the decent satire of preachers and pricks shows promise. It has the potential to offer some incisive social commentary and make the readers think. However, on the other hand, the excessive focus on detail seems to have let it down. Lewis appears to ramble on too much, going into minute details that might not be entirely necessary. This excessive verbosity detracts from the overall flow and impact of the piece. As a result, when it comes to the conclusion, it feels awfully, awfully rushed. It seems as if Lewis suddenly realized that he needed to wrap things up and just did so in a hasty manner, without giving the conclusion the proper thought and development it deserved. This leaves the reader with a sense of dissatisfaction and a feeling that the full potential of the work was not realized.

November 2024 is a month that holds great significance.

It is a time when the leaves are changing colors and falling gently to the ground, creating a beautiful and colorful landscape.

The weather is starting to cool down, and people are bundling up in their warmest clothes.

In November 2024, there may be many events and activities taking place around the world.

Perhaps there will be political elections in some countries, or important business conferences.

It could also be a month for cultural festivals and celebrations, bringing people together to enjoy music, food, and art.

For individuals, November 2024 might be a time for personal growth and reflection.

People may set new goals for themselves or look back on the year and evaluate their progress.

It could be a month to spend time with family and friends, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Overall, November 2024 is a month full of possibilities and opportunities.

It is a time to embrace the changes of the season and look forward to the future with hope and excitement.

3.5 stars.

Let me start this review by saying that I truly wanted to have a great love for this work. It has been sitting on my to-read shelf for far too long. However, when I finally made the decision to read it, I didn't discover anything truly remarkable about it. I have other Sinclair Lewis books on my to-read list, such as Babbitt, Arrowsmith and Main Street. But my first encounter with Lewis' writing style didn't make me overly eager to read those other classics. It's similar to when I read H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man (my first experience with Wells). Based on what I knew about Wells as a person and a writer, I had high expectations of enjoying his work greatly, but I was actually quite disappointed. The same was true for my initial taste of Sinclair Lewis. I found the story to be readable, but not captivating. The prose seemed weak throughout when compared to other works that I cherish, and it deteriorated even more as the story approached its end. (As Mark Schorer writes in the afterword, this reflects the breakdown of Lewis' own life as he was nearing the completion of the novel, with marital problems, alcoholism, and so on.)

Perhaps the thing I disliked the most about this work was the character of Elmer Gantry himself. He is a despicable, hypocritical preacher who uses religion to boost his reputation while simultaneously ruining the lives of those around him. He leaves a trail of destruction wherever he goes, without any sense of responsibility for his actions. He is a character without a conscience. He is the anti-hero of the work and (*spoiler alert*) he emerges victorious at the end. It might be a very realistic (and sad) portrayal of American religion, with a strong anthropological and sociological nature. As a reader, I know that in reality, the "bad guy" often wins, and one of the things I enjoy about literature is sharing the characters' joys and sorrows, their triumphs and struggles. When reading Steinbeck, I have a vested interest in the lives of the Joads or the Trasks and Hamiltons. When reading Flaubert, one can sense a connection with the struggles of Charles and Emma Bovary, even if it's difficult to truly empathize with the characters because they come across as complex humans with flaws, virtues, and complex emotions. But with this work, Elmer Gantry comes across as just a contemptible, one-dimensional character. He preaches monogamy but cheats on his wife; he preaches prohibition but drinks like a fish; he is more than willing to betray anyone who gets in his way. He is narcissistic, greedy, and overall just a terrible person.

And yet, despite how much I loathe Gantry (which made it a challenge for me to keep reading the work) and an otherwise fairly decent plotline, I wonder if I shouldn't rate the book higher. After all, there is something to be said for Lewis' ability to create such a realistic and vile character.

In the afterword to the work, Mark Schorer of UC Berkeley writes, "The forces of social good and enlightenment as presented in Elmer Gantry are not strong enough to offer any real resistance to the forces of social evil and banality. Most novels operate through a conflict, dramatized in a plot, of social and individual interest, and the more sustained the pressures of the plot, the more likely is the individual to be forced into a position of new self-awareness.... What is most characteristic of the novels of Sinclair Lewis, and above all of Elmer Gantry, is that there are no such dynamics of social action." And it is this, which (in a way) sets Lewis apart as a writer, that prevented me from enjoying his work more and that discourages me from reading more of his works. Will I still give his other novels a chance? Yes. I think each work should be judged on its own merits. But I also think I've had enough of Lewis for the time being to last me for a while.

He had, in fact, obtained everything from the church and Sunday School. However, perhaps he lacked any longing whatsoever for decency, kindness, and reason.

It turns out that when this book was published, numerous religious Americans, especially evangelicals, went berserk. Sinclair Lewis, an absolute maestro of American satire, had depicted his prominent evangelical preacher Elmer Gantry as a carnal hypocrite who couldn't be bothered to understand or believe the doctrine that he utilized to enhance his own status. I believe that the real-world response to Lewis' book must have stemmed, at least in part, from guilty consciences.

The story of Elmer Gantry is excellent satire, and it also presented a welcome chance for me to contemplate my own conduct regarding religion. I hope that I am not an unwitting hypocrite, and I hope that I am honest with myself and forgiving of others' flaws.

I am not interested in the ridicule of legitimate faith, and I truly don't think that Lewis is either. Nevertheless, some preachers abuse the pulpit for their own trickery, and they merit the rebuke.

Elmer Gantry is a womanizing troublemaker. He has a penchant for engaging in frequent questionable conduct. However, astonishingly, he manages to ascend to the position of a successful preacher. Along this path, he often wreaks havoc and destroys the lives of those around him.

This is truly a remarkable book. Despite being written 80 years ago, it retains an astonishing freshness and remains highly thought-provoking. It delves into the realm of religion and the lives of those who convey it to us in a manner that few authors would have the courage to explore. The story of Elmer Gantry offers a profound and incisive look at the complex intersection of morality, ambition, and faith. It forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths and challenges our preconceived notions about religion and those who claim to represent it.

Overall, this book is a literary gem that continues to resonate with readers today, making it a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the human condition and the power of religion in our lives.

Elmer Gantry is a work that gives the impression that one has already read it, mainly because the protagonist has been so prevalently referenced in American culture. Sinclair Lewis, with unwavering determination, mercilessly dissects a narcissistic preacher. This preacher shamelessly exploits Christianity to amass wealth for himself while secretly engaging in every sin that he vehemently denounces from the pulpit.

The book commences with Gantry being a hard-partying and anti-intellectual football star at a Baptist university. It then chronicles his journey into a career as a pastor, a path he has no genuine calling to follow. For a quarter of a century, it tracks his various ups and downs, with the emphasis being mostly on the ups. His mistreatment of women is particularly scathing. He adores them until he manages to obtain them.

Apart from some racial slurs and the fact that Gantry's brief dalliance with a 14-year-old girl is inadequately condemned as predatory, the book has endured well over time. Lewis is a scathing social critic. Elmer Gantry is not so much a biography as it is a damning indictment. It is extremely rare to come across a book about a character who is so thoroughly loathed by its author. I have never had a stronger desire to witness a protagonist face the consequences of his sins.

This work serves as a powerful reminder of the perils of hypocrisy and the importance of authenticity in matters of faith and morality.

This book, in my opinion, was penned to mirror the exasperation one might experience while listening to a sermon of colossal magnitude or perhaps when someone is evangelizing: fatigued.

Lewis is not merely criticizing ministers (those who are regarded as the vessels of God), but religion as a whole. He portrays Gantry as a man who is dubious about his faith in God, yet self-assured in his capacity as a charismatic orator. Consequently, Gantry becomes an ordained Baptist minister. When that particular religion fails to meet his expectations, he seeks solace elsewhere.

And herein lies the problem. This narrative persists for a hefty 476 pages. Gantry indulges in drinking, smoking, womanizing, and even philanders after getting married. He seizes every opportunity to lie (even to himself) in order to obtain what he desires. There is never a moment of learning because Gantry manages to escape the consequences of his bombastic behavior throughout the entire book. And this ultimately becomes tiresome.

The writing is commendable for the most part, yet I often noticed that there were fragmented sentences. I wasn't certain if this was a deliberate choice or a result of poor editing.

On a positive note, I have learned the word jeremiad (n: a prolonged lamentation or complaint; a cautionary or angry harangue), which I intend to incorporate into my conversations from now on.

A satirical novel was penned by Sinclair Lewis in 1926. It vividly presents various aspects of the religious activity in America, specifically within fundamentalist and evangelistic circles.

Here, we witness a rather absurd conversation. He interrupts her, saying, "- Let's go and tell the kids, maybe they'll be proud of their dad." But she replies, "- Dear, they are asleep." He then retorts, "- Oh, I see, sleep is more important to them than to know that their father isn't afraid to back up his gospel with his very life." She stammers, "- Oh, I didn't mean, I meant, yes of course, you're right. It will be a wonderful example and inspiration, but let me put some stick and plaster on your cheek first."

By the time she has washed the cut, bound it, and fussed over it, he has forgotten about the children and their need for a heroic exemplar, just as she had expected. He then sits on the edge of the bathtub, telling her he is an entire trojan army. She is so worshipful that he becomes almost amorous. However, when he senses from her anxious patting of his arm that she is trying to make him so, it angers him. He thinks it's egotistical of her, being so unappealing, to try to attract a man like himself.

Reading this is like being inside the mind of such a character. It's similar to the Trump, the Prophet, and those who always consider themselves to be legends. They try to force their ideas, perhaps with some "skill," into our humble, sane, and balanced minds through violence and without a doubt.

His possessions were not very consistent.

He had a beautiful new morning coat, three excellent lounge suits, patent leather shoes, a noble derby, a flourishing top hat. However, he had only two suits of underclothes, both of which were ragged. His socks were of black silk, with holes at the toes. For breast-pocket display, he had silk handkerchiefs; but for use, only cotton rags torn at the hem. He owned perfume, hair-oil, talcum powder, and his cuff links were of solid gold. But for a dressing-gown, he used his overcoat; his slippers were a frowsy pulp; and the watch which he carried on a gold and platinum chain was a one-dollar alarm clock.

This innocuous description, buried halfway through Elmer Gantry, perfectly characterizes Elmer. The contrast between his outer appearance and inward state reflects the glaring hypocrisy of his actions and doctrines. But simply characterizing Elmer Gantry as a hypocrite doesn't fully capture the infuriating aspect of his personality. Yes, he's a hypocrite, but what's truly disturbing is his lack of self-awareness. He understands that his womanizing, drinking, and exploitation are wrong, yet he justifies these actions by saying things like "no one is perfect" and "I'm just a man, after all." It's truly sickening.

Although the novel focuses primarily on Elmer and bears his name, it's misguiding to say that the novel is primarily about his rise to prominence. The story is really about specific events along Elmer's journey - specifically, the characters he encounters as he grows older. The novel with the most similar structure would be, ironically, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, which follows Christian's journey from sin to salvation. Elmer is the perfect foil for Christian's earnest quest for holiness.

The effect of this episodic organization is intentional. The characters change as a result of their encounters and trials, but the focus of the novel becomes the incidental characters and the ideas that they represent. While Pilgrim's Progress is allegorical, illuminating the trials of life and the Christian's pursuit of holiness in the grimness of the world, Elmer Gantry is strictly satirical. By using the same method of organization, Sinclair expertly creates caricatures that represent different aspects of the protestant clergy and laity in early 20th century America. He encounters preachers, elders, deacons, bishops, politicians, lawyers, bartenders, sinners, saints, students, professors, and choirgirls that seem uncomfortably familiar. Like the Pharisees that Jesus criticized, Elmer and his cronies are "whitewashed tombs" who "look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean" (Mt 23:27). Elmer Gantry remains a prophetic warning concerning the corruptibility of the human heart and misguided ambition.

• • •

Also, Chapter 17 was one of the most convicting chapters that I've ever read.