This book was written by Robert B. Parker. Early Autumn was published in 1976 and won the Best Novel Award in 1977.This is a Spenser novel. Spenser, named after the poet, is a private investigator located in Boston. There are roughly 36 Spenser novels. This one is number four. The first one, The Godwulf Manuscript, was published in 1971, and there has been one nearly every year since.
I own multiple copies of this book and it is packed in all of my luggage. This book goes everywhere I go. It is by far the one book that has truly influenced my life, more than any person or event.
I can't say really why it is so wonderful to me, but I think it has to do with my family situation growing up. I read this book for the first time, in 1982 when I was working at a used bookstore. The story features Paul, a fifteen year old boy whose parents are using him as a pawn in their bitter divorce. Spenser takes him to Maine to give him a crash course in survival.
The one passage that has stayed with me every day since I first read this book so long ago happens when Spenser is talking to Paul:
"I mean you don't have anything to care about. You don't have anything to be proud of. You don't have anything to know. You are almost completely neutral because nobody took the time to teach you or show you and because what you saw of the people who brought you up didn't offer anything you wanted to copy."
"It's not my fault."
"No, not yet. But if you lay back and let oblivion roll over you, it will be your fault. You're old enough now to start becoming a person. And you're old enough now so that you'll have to start taking some kind of responsibility for your life. And I'm going to help you."
It helped me understand no one was going to be there for me, but me. I could whine and moan about what I didn't have, but that wasn't going to change a thing. It would only slow me down in achieving what I wanted, who I wanted to become. I didn't have to be my parents. I still had time to change into a good, kind, and decent person.
This book like all the Spenser novels, are written with a code of character, integrity and honor. Plus, they are funny and the plots are excellent.
I used to hope I would find someone like Spenser in real life. A man with character and integrity who would do the right thing when times were hard. A man you could depend on. A man of strength and kindness. I didn't know one growing up. I didn't marry one. But I believe my son will end up being one, thanks in a large part to this book.
All of the Spenser novels are still in print. They have been republished over and over again. Thank goodness, in case mine wear out. You can buy them at your local bookstores.
I am showing you my pride and joy. This is a signed first edition of Early Autumn. You can only find this edition on a used book site. Or you might get really really lucky and find it on your thrifting expeditions. If you bought it off of a used book site, it would run you between $66.00 anywhere up to $250.00, depending on the quality of the signature and the condition of the book.
I bought this years ago for $4.95 and then later on, Robert Parker was signing books in a bookstore in San Jose, CA and I brought this in to have it signed. I don't know if he still does any public signing.On a side note about finding used books. I was at the Goodwill about 6 or 7 years ago, and I was looking through the hardback mystery section. I found a book called "When the Bough Breaks" by Jonathan Kellerman. This was published in 1986 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. I paid .99 cents, it is now worth over $175.00. It is a first edition and it was signed. So the rare jewel is still out there. You just need to search.
If you can, give the Spenser novels a read, especially Early Autumn. It will definitely enhance your life.
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