Twelve-year-old Richard is a student at a Catholic boarding school in the mountains of Tennessee. The night before Good Friday, the students and clergy take turns staying awake all night in the cathedral and praying. During his turn at the vigil, Richard spends the whole time reflecting on how closely he matches the ideal of the perfect Catholic. No matter how hard he tries, he always finds himself committing new sins. After his shift is over, he and two friends decide not to go back to bed, as they have been told to do by one of the priests, but instead go to a nearby swimming hole. There, the boys see a snake that has just shed its skin, and they kill it. Richard reflects on the experience on the way back to school to face his punishment, and the reader is left to reflect on the nature of spirituality and the general battle of good vs. evil.

There is a lot packed in to this short novel. I really liked all the symbolism and spiritual debates, but there were also times when Richard’s inner dialogue just ran on too long. This is not a book for people who like action, as the bulk of the novel consists of Richard’s thoughts as he kneels in prayer. I liked Agee’s other novel, A Death in the Family, better than this one, although they’re both good. ( )

Si rimane colpiti dalla straordinaria sensibilità di Agee - anche se questa sensibilità generata dai pensieri di un dodicenne sembra posticcia - nonche' dalla evidenza dell'enorme danno psicologico, morale e fisco che la credenza nel cristianesimo può indurre in un ragazzino. Un racconto sull'orrore del venerdì santo e sul passaggio visionario dalla pubertà ad una adolescenza conquistata a fatica. Molto simbolico, altrettanto lirico, assai poetico, lievemente ermetico. ( )

A young boy is in boarding school, struggling with his religious (Catholic) identity, trying to fit in with the other boys. There were some really interesting parts dealing with ritual and dogma. Highly recommended. ( )