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Alabama alum, "Forrest Gump" author Winston Groom has passed away
Posted on 9/17/20 at 7:48 pm
Posted on 9/17/20 at 7:48 pm
quote:
Winston Groom, the author whose novel Forrest Gump inspired the Oscar-winning film of the same name, has died at 77. No details on the cause of death were confirmed by the mayor’s office in Fairhope, Alabama, where he had been living.
Groom’s novel sold 1.7 million copies based on the popularity of the film, which won six Oscars in 1995, including Best Picture, Best Actor for star Tom Hanks, and Best Director for Robert Zemeckis.
Groom’s other novels included Better Times Than These, As Summers Die, Only, Gone the Sun, Such a Pretty, Pretty Girl and the 2016 El Paso. He also wrote the 2000 University of Alabama Press book The Crimson Tide: An Illustrated History of Football at the University of Alabama, and an updated 2010 second version, The Crimson Tide: The Official Illustrated History of Alabama Football, National Championship Edition.
The prolific author also wrote many nonfiction books, most covering military history.
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Posted on 9/17/20 at 8:38 pm to RollTide1987
Since they removed the name Morgan from the English building today, and haven't renamed it, I would suggest calling it the Groom Building. Others have proposed calling it the Lee Building after Harper Lee, but since her work was a one hit wonder until the sequel was released just recently, and since there is the persistent rumor that Truman Capote actually wrote the novel and gave it to Lee, I think Groom would make a much safer choice.
Posted on 9/17/20 at 9:27 pm to phil4bama
agreed but I'm not buying that Capote rumor.
Posted on 9/18/20 at 1:24 am to phil4bama
I’d say Lee still has the much more popular book. Both authors had one-hit wonders, and a retired Auburn professor of all people proved the Capote rumor to be false with a letter written by Capote himself. Both authors’ popular works aren’t safe from cancel culture regardless.
This post was edited on 9/18/20 at 1:53 am
Posted on 9/18/20 at 7:11 am to RTRcdub
Yeah...I'd have to give Harper Lee the edge with To Kill a Mockingbird. That said...I preferred Groom as an author, especially of non-fiction. His history of Alabama Football as well as some of his works on the Civil War are very good reading.
Posted on 9/18/20 at 9:01 am to phil4bama
quote:
Others have proposed calling it the Lee Building after Harper Lee, but since her work was a one hit wonder
That was a hell of a one hit
Posted on 9/18/20 at 10:35 am to 14&Counting
It's up there with "Catcher in the Rye" and "A Confederacy of Dunces."
Posted on 9/20/20 at 8:45 am to RollTide1987
Though he will forever be known primarily for Forrest Gump, As Summers Die is a good novel.
Posted on 9/21/20 at 5:59 am to phil4bama
Lee building is better. She definitely wrote the book. Idk where that bs comes from.
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