Why people recommend it
Norwood by Charles Portis is a humorous and idiosyncratic road novel about an ex-marine from Texas who gets pulled into a peculiar journey up to New York City. On an episode of The Book Review titled Diana Goetsch on ‘This Body I Wore’, podcast host John Williams discussed revisiting the novel, noting that rereading is a rare habit for him. Williams remarked on the distinct eccentricity of the book, detailing how the protagonist, Norwood Pratt, is dispatched on a rather strange assignment by a shady character. During the same conversation, Juman Katib chimed in on an episode titled The Books We’re Excited About in Early 2025, sharing that she had previously read Norwood and loved the experience. Both speakers highlighted the enduring charm and unusual atmosphere of Portis's writing, drawing attention to a title that often escapes mainstream notice yet leaves a strong impression on those who discover it. The podcast participants used the discussion to celebrate the author's unique voice, capturing why this slender yet memorable story continues to resonate with readers and critics who appreciate eccentric American fiction.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Recommended
- Juman Katib Discussed
John Williams — 3 mentions
“it's very slender and it's Charles Porto's first novel Norwood which I'm rereading which is rare for me”
“Norwood is very strange it's about this guy named Norwood Pratt and he's an ex-marine and he's sent on this mission to go to New York City by kind of shady character”
“and I'm reading Norwood by Charles pis”
Juman Katib — 1 mention
“I'd only read Norwood and I loved it”