44 pages • 1 hour read
William MaxwellA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell recounts the narrator’s reflections on a childhood friendship in Lincoln, Illinois, disrupted by a tragic murder/suicide. The narrator feels lifelong regret for not speaking to his friend Cletus after the tragedy involving Cletus’s father. He reconstructs the events leading to the crime, exploring family instability, father-son relationships, and the impact of memories and fiction. It contains a death by suicide and human and animal abuse.
William Maxwell's So Long, See You Tomorrow is universally praised for its poignant exploration of memory and loss. Critics laud its lyrical prose and emotional depth but note the nonlinear narrative can be challenging. Some find it slow-paced, but the novel's rich characterization and profound themes ultimately leave a lasting impact.
A reader who enjoys So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell is likely drawn to introspective and emotionally complex narratives. Fans of works like Marilynne Robinson's Gilead or Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day will appreciate the novel's reflective tone, intricate character studies, and exploration of memory and regret.
Historical Fiction
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
American Literature
Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Relationships: Fathers
Relationships: Family
History: World