The Hindenburg Crashes Nightly

By Greg Hrbek

Book Overview

In the summer of 1975, Thomas Markham is a slight boy of ten, Lindsey Paris a troubled girl of eighteen. When Tom's mother dies in childbirth, his family is shattered and he surrenders to the warm embrace of college-bound Lindsey, who is all too familiar with pain and lonliness. What they share in the darkness of that tragic summer binds them together and haunts them far into the future. Fifteen years later, in San Francisco, Tom and Lindsey discover their feelings are stronger than ever--and they commence an affair charged with guilt and eroticism. Lindsey's husband, Philip, harbors growing suspicions, while her lesbian ex-lover, Nile, creates a new triangle of sensual deception. With the arrival of Matthew, Tom's runaway brother, tangled histories of silence and lies begin to unravel. As the group attempts to make sense of love and suffering, Thomas moves closer to the troubling questions of his childhood and the meaning of his own identity. In vivid and lyrical prose, award-winning novelist Greg Hrbek makes an astonishing debut with this journey into the heart and soul of romantic need--its beauties, punishments and unexpected redemptions.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038080543X
• ISBN13: 9780380805433
• Release Date: July 2000
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Lush and provocative

Having stumbled onto this book one weekend while in my favorite bookstore, I was intrigued by the title, pulled it from the shelf and purchased it. I'm thankful that I did not miss this novel.In parallel stories, THE HIDENBURG CRASHES NIGHTLY chronicles Tom Markham's enduring love for Lindsey Paris, a girl eight years his senior.A dark and sensual story of passion and obsession, this is a gorgeously written first novel, which hopefully, will not be Mr. Hrebk's last. While this novel seems to be limited in availability, do whatever you can to find a copy.

Hindenberg Crashes

Hindenberg Crashes Nighlty is one of those rare books that has a strong narrative drive, with rich complex, conflicted charachters that despite their flaws are immensly likable. This book has a similiar 'soulful' feel to Michael Cunningham's A Home at the End of the Work; it asks those big life questions, while delivering a satisfying dose of unrequited love, soul searching and smart, funny conversations you might hear at a fantasticly intellectual dinner party. A really refreshing read. Hrebeck also has a story in this months Harpers Magazine (December 1999) that is a worthwhile introduction to his unique writing style.

Parallel lives woven together with beautifully

It has been a long time (since Scott Spencer's "Endless Love") coming that a novel has been so beautifully written about lonliness, pain, obssession and the angst of youth. Bravo Greg Hrbek and I look forward to future literary gems from you! It has been a long time since I had a book that I couldn't wait to get back to and felt annoyed when reality pulled me away.

Searing pain that leads to happiness

A wonderful story by someone who remembers the 70's as they should be remembered. The writer uses words as a paintbrush to paint memories in your mind. Read this when you have lots of time, because you will only be annoyed to stop reading in the middle of a good part.

A gorgeous book, a heartbreak between two covers

How else to describe Greg Hrbek's prose than with the adjectives of beauty, love, desire? His writing is not merely poetic, but somehow onomatopoeic -- the sound of the words are interpreted as pure emotion for the reader. His writing is not only read, but experienced. But do we always want to feel the powerful emotion Hrbek creates in this book? For it slowly becomes clear that below the surface of Tom and Lindsey's passion will take the pain, the guilt, the searing truth of betrayal and heartbreak -- we'll take it, because in exchange Hrbek gives us the gift of shared inspiration. From Tom's original loss, to Lindsey's childhood violation, to Matt's headlong dive into the welcoming waters of insanity, Hrbek makes clear that in his world, only suffering breeds beauty. And lucky for us. A writer of literature, in the truest sense, Greg Hrbek is more than just a young writer to take note of -- he's a literary star about to be born