The Natural Man is a coming-of-age story set in the nothing Kentucky town of Needmore (the name intended quite literally) in the 1950's (?). It follows the life of high-schooler Benny, whose life seems to be shifted by the arrival of Monk McHorning, an oafish orphan brought to town to turn a winning season for the high school basketball team. But, surprisingly, the book isn't really about McHorning and his relationship with Benny, though McHorning does push Benny outside his traditional comfort zone. Instead, the book is more about Benny's stumbles through late adolescence, his lack of clarity over what he wants. The book is bawdy and quite funny, particularly about Benny's feelings for "Oodles," a local girl without charm. There's no romanticizing of teenage affection here, but McClanahan does empathize with his hapless protagonists' muddling feelings.
McClanahan is a native Kentuckian, and it shows. The book is chock full of minute details of the people, buildings, and attitudes. It feels real and immersive in a way that's rare to find. Ultimately The Natural Man is a snapshot of a very particular group, time, and place--it's a narrow focus, but McClanahan does it so well, it's hard to complain.
