5 stars is not enough to describe this extraordinary book!

From the moment you pick it up, you are drawn into a world of captivating stories and profound insights.

The author's writing style is engaging and accessible, making it a pleasure to read.

Each chapter offers a unique perspective on life, love, and everything in between.

Whether you're looking for inspiration, entertainment, or a new way of thinking, this book has something for everyone.

It's a book that you'll want to read again and again, and one that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Don't miss out on this amazing literary masterpiece!

I have been a die-hard fan of Thomas Wolfe ever since I first delved into "You Can't Go Home Again." His writing prowess was simply astonishing, and indeed, he was a true genius as the movie about him aptly titled. Subsequently, I devoured "Look Homeward Angel" and "Lost," solidifying my status as a devoted Wolfe enthusiast. I even made a pilgrimage to his home in Asheville, eager to witness the very places he had described with such meticulous detail. That journey was both enjoyable and fascinating.

Then, I perused A. Scott Berg's book on Max Perkins, Wolfe's remarkable editor. Through it, I gained a far deeper understanding of the real Thomas Wolfe than what could be gleaned solely from his own works. Despite Wolfe's numerous character flaws and idiosyncrasies, I remained captivated by his sheer ability to write voluminously, effortlessly, and superbly. Standing at an imposing 6'5" and residing in a tiny New York apartment, he penned "Look Homeward Angel" on top of the refrigerator in his kitchen. When he was done, he arrived at Perkins' office with a crate filled with over 2000 handwritten pages.

When you read his books, his words flow like poetry. I have often regarded him as a poet-novelist. However, he also had many detractors who criticized his extremely long sentences. I was always a bit perplexed by the intensity of their distaste. But now, having read "Of Time and the River," I better understand their ire. Honestly, as hard as Max Perkins labored to persuade Wolfe to pare down the novel, it could have been easily trimmed by one-third, if not more. It became a real struggle to get through. Nevertheless, you learn about Wolfe's experiences going to Boston, attending Harvard at the age of 20, and his many adventures. His crazy uncle lived there and served as his anchor. There is so much more he reveals about his time in Boston and then New York. But the reason to read this 892-page opus from a genius is to understand his life, his perspectives, his challenges, and his heartaches. Like "You Can't Go Home Again," reading this book requires commitment. While some may dismiss it due to Wolfe's style and length, I saw it as a challenge. If you are a writer or reader who appreciates outstanding writing talent, I urge you to read Wolfe's final book before he tragically passed away at the tender age of 38.

A directionless, shy yet self-indulgent young man finds himself lost in a sea of chaos.

His furious and restless wanderings seem to have no end. He succumbs to hedonism, seeking pleasure in every form. Drunkenness becomes his escape, numbing the pain and confusion within.

Whoring becomes a way for him to fill the void, to feel a momentary connection.

His emotional incontinence is on full display, as he struggles to control his feelings.

Yet, within this turmoil, he attempts to elevate his existence with heroic and poetic grandiloquence. He dreams of being a hero, of having a purpose and a meaning in life.

His words are like a shield, protecting him from the harsh reality that surrounds him.

But deep down, he knows that he is just a lost soul, searching for something that may never be found.

Of Time And The River is the sequel to Wolfe's first novel, Look Homeward Angel. It tells the story of a young man constantly in search of his life's purpose.

He had illusory images of a romanticized life, which led him to Europe. There, he initially failed to find what he was seeking. However, he eventually realized that the ordinary things he had tried to escape were what he truly wanted.

He found these things in Europe, not in the expected part but on the western vestiges of the Continent. Then, on the long voyage home with a woman like him, brought together by "fate" or a "strange magic," he truly discovered them.

The youth didn't find what he was looking for in his hometown but on a ship returning to his ancestral home, the United States, the greatest "home" one could call. And when he called that place "home" with his intended life partner, that was all that mattered. The "angel" who kept looking homeward was finally returning and was happy at last.

Although the novel has an excellent theme of a "lost youth" seeking the meaning of life, it is overly long and descriptive. Wolfe sometimes writes over the heads of his intended audience, which is a poor literary technique. Additionally, he ended the story too abruptly.

Despite these flaws, I'll give Of Time and the River four stars because of its good ending. Ironically, Wolfe didn't develop the final chapter as he should have, but it is still an appropriate ending for both his first novel and its sequel.