The Big Bounce

Tevis, Walter S., 1928-1984Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.5

Word count: 21K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Big Bounce by Walter S. TevisAuthor: Tevis, Walter S., 1928-1984,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Oct 23, 2007

Editor's review

The Big Bounce is a novel by Walter S. Tevis, released as a free e-book through Project Gutenberg. Tevis excels at portraying the circumstances and psychology of marginalized characters within popular narrative, and this book continues that characteristic, unfolding around a seemingly easy "opportunity," with a brisk pace, lively dialogue, and cold, dark humor. As a public-domain electronic text, its value lies not only in the story itself but also in offering Chinese readers a window into the writing style of twentieth-century American genre fiction. There is no need to seek grand themes; it is better treated as a quality leisure read, to be read in segments during commutes, travel, or before bed. The English original uses straightforward wording and uncomplicated sentences, making it suitable as introductory material for English learners approaching original novels. Note that this is an English-language original e-book, and readers should confirm their language preparedness before reading.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy American dark humor and crime fiction
Learners who want to practice reading English originals in shorter length
Readers who need light leisure reading for commuting or travel
People interested in public-domain e-books from Project Gutenberg

Not a good fit for

Readers unaccustomed to reading English originals who rely on Chinese translations
Readers expecting complex social issues or in-depth literary analysis
Readers uninterested in crime and marginalized characters

Reading tips

Read one chapter first to feel the rhythm of the language, then decide whether to read the dialogue closely
Keep a dictionary on your phone for instant lookup; do not stop at every word and interrupt the plot
After each chapter, retell the plot in two or three sentences to check comprehension and maintain progress
If used for English learning, excerpt character dialogue to imitate tone and common expressions

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a Chinese translation or the English original?

According to Project Gutenberg's information, this book is an English-language original e-book, with the language marked as English and no Chinese translation included. Chinese readers need some English reading ability or the aid of dictionaries and translation tools.

What equipment or conditions are needed to read this book?

Published by Project Gutenberg as a free e-book, it can be opened on a computer, tablet, or e-reader. It is advisable to use reading software that supports font size adjustment and to ensure the network environment can normally access public-domain electronic texts.

Is Tevis's work suitable for readers new to English novels?

Tevis's narration is popular in style, with much dialogue and generally short sentences, making it relatively friendly to readers trying English original novels for the first time. A certain vocabulary is still needed; it is advisable to start with short chapters and read with a dictionary, without forcing yourself to finish in one go.

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About the author

Tevis, Walter S., 1928-1984 Author · American · 1928–1984

American novelist Walter S. Tevis (1928–1984) is known for tightly plotted, suspenseful fiction. His representative works include The Hustler and The Man Who Fell to Earth, and his novels have been adapted into films multiple times, building a notable bridge between popular literature and screen adaptation. His writing often focuses on the psychological shifts of ordinary people under intense pressure, with clean, driving plots in which characters reveal complex and believable selves at turning points of fate. The library holds his work The Big Bounce, showing that he also explored stories with elements of crime and suspense. Public information about the details of his life is limited; his literary standing rests mainly on these works, which have been widely read and repeatedly adapted.