Last NIght In Twisted River

Plot Summery
Last Night In The Twister River is about the lives, of Domenic a cook, his son Daniel, and his best friend Ketchum a logger. The story begins with a death an adolescent worker Angel, who died under Ketchum’s close supervision as Ketchum was looked upon as the boy’s mentor in the dangerous business known as river driving. Angel’s death is only the beginning for Daniel or Danny is growing more imaginative as time goes on. As Ketchum sulks about the boy’s death he remembers that Rosie Domenic’s deceased wife, took three days to reach the dam after her untimely death on the river that one drunken night, so he begged the cook or cookie as Ketchum called him to travel with him from the logging settlement to the mill where the dam is located. This brings old stories back to life and Danny once again remembers how his dad killed a bear with his legendary Skillet. Distressed about all that has happened Domenic is consoled that night by the corrupt constable’s girlfriend Jane, who the cook has been involved with. This however brings bad tidings because as Domenic and Jane begin their business, Danny wakes up with the notion that his dad is being attacked by a big grunting bear. Blinded by fear Danny takes his dads 8-inch Iron Skillet and hits the long haired heavy women on the head effectively ending her life. This then forces Domenic and Danny to go on the run to in case the constable suspected them in his girlfriend’s death. Their first stop the damn to meet with Ketchum and then Boston the place where Angel grew up. It is here Danny first discovers he is destine to become a writer and where Dominic meets his second love Carmella, Angel’s mother also a woman of heavy stature. Eventually the constable catches up with them but not before Danny hit his late twenties with a son he had to avoid the Vietnam draft. This once again prompted Danny and his dad to leave, but this time with a wealth of money and a child as Danny had now become a famous writer, so they headed to Vermont. Only to be discovered again by two blabber mouthed Twisted River folk who wandered in Domenic’s restaurant, forcing them to go on the run again to Toronto, hoping that things might be different this time, just as Joe Danny’s son goes to college in Colorado. Only, time will tell and I don’t plan on spoiling the very good ending.
Literary Analysis
The characters in the Twisted are very genuine, one way this is shown is through diction because each character was raised differently which influences their choice of word and how they speak. For example Ketchum had his own unique choice of words he frequently used throughout the book such as, “Mountains of Moose Shit”, “That Asshole” and “Shit” because he had become tough as he grew up and was illiterate which played part in his limited vocabulary. This creates interesting conversation between the main characters in the story, “‘you’re actually learning how to read’ Danny asked. ‘Yes I am-it’s just going slower than counting coon shit,’ Ketchum told them” (Irving 184). Which in turn makes the characters and their actions seem authentic as the plot continues to build. This also helps build suspense because Ketchum usually brings about a sense of urgency through his various methods of communication.
Favourite Passages
The first passage that appealed to me was where Danny finds out about Ketchum’s dog. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll pass out dead drunk, and that’s when Carl will come after you?’ ‘You haven’t met my dog Danny-he’s a fine animal.’ ‘I didn’t know you had a dog,’ Danny said.”(Irving 184) This appealed to me because it is the introduction of a dog who is a lifelong friend to Ketchum and later Danny, but it is also a symbol of their caring friendship because Danny worries about Ketchum’s safety so Ketchum get a dog and later Ketchum gives it to him for Danny’s own protection. The second passage that appealed to me was the part just after Carl’s ordeal in the restaurant kitchen. “But her Gamba leaving had hurt more; Carmella was crying because she knew that her Gamba’s ordeal was not over.”(Irving 195) This passage really touched me because it truly shows how deep and intimate Domenic and Carmella’s relationship really was, which made the plot seem more sincere. The final passage that interested me is at the end when Danny again finds true love. “Danny feed the dog and wrote Amy a note, not telling her he was falling in love with her.”(Irving 552) This is the best part because everyone is at peace Ketchum went the way he wanted to and Domenic got his last laugh, Also Danny finally found someone he can finally be with and it brings a nice closure to the novel.