Recently, Colson Whitehead's name came up in a conversation with my editor. We were talking about genre and I realized that Sag Harbor was the only book that he has written that I had not read. I can no longer say that and my life feels richer as a result.
Sag Harbor is an energetic blend of philosophy, psychology, and brilliant entertainment. Each hapless characters is distinct, well drawn, and sympathetic. This novel provides a satisfying answer to the question, "What is literary voice?"
Benji--I mean, Ben--is the reader's tour guide. He is an eloquent escort around the black bourgeois enclave of Sag Harbor, which neighbors the Hamptons, under two hours outside of New York City. Ben is a reticent and awkward teenager who is persistently at odds with his thoughts and those who surround him. As the story develops, it is easy to understand his hangups by piecing together the details that explain his estrangement from his parents and his sister as he and his "twin brother," Reggie, begin to grow apart.
The only other thing I'll say is pick up this book and get comfortable with it. You just might find it impossible to put down.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
In the Falling Snow by Caryl Phillips
As a writer with very particular tastes in what I read, dissecting the work of others is an occupational hazard. Let me preface my review by saying three things. First, I found Phillips' latest novel to be entirely satisfying and complex. Second, I pay close attention to the significance of titles and found this one to be particularly poignant. Third, the comments that follow reveal key aspects of the story, so please stop here, for now, if you are yet to read this book and wish to discover all of these details on your own.
The nonlinear structure of this story has the effect of mirroring one’s thought process. It is a perfect vehicle for sharpening focus on the life of Keith Gordon as the story of his life unfolds. Keith is the child of West Indian immigrants who succumbed to the lure of England as a better way of life. Keith is a successful social worker whose journey involves eroding the borders that he has placed around his emotions. These limitations lead to a divorce instigated by his response to midlife crisis, in the form of a fling with a younger woman named, Yvette, who just happens to report to him at work. The other partner in the divorce is his wife, Annabelle, who is also the mother of their rebellious son, Laurie.
At the beginning of this novel, one of the biggest story questions is what causes Keith to be so detached from everyone he meets. Many of his actions are illogical, which serve to validate the extent of his being at odds with his own process of aging. Perhaps the greatest example of this behavior is his infatuation with Danuta, a young Polish woman, who he meets at a library while doing research for a book about African American musicians.
Keith’s indiscretion with Yvette causes him to be suspended from his job. As he loses interest in reclaiming it, it seems that his instincts might have told him that his life was about to change to a very great degree. Unsure what to do with himself while not working in his office, he ventures north to see his father from whom he has always been estranged. Before long, his father becomes gravely ill and reveals the story of his life to Keith in extended streams of consciousness that are entirely compelling.
Phillips has written a masterpiece that adds handsomely to his body of work on the subject of diaspora, characteristically dealing with the intricacies of race with tremendous skill. As an exemplary study of character motivations, In the Falling Snow convincingly addresses the big-picture themes of midlife emotions and behaviors; adolescence; race; work/life purpose/artistic pursuits; responsiblity; dreams and aspirations; and above all family, in the splendor of its considerable imperfections. This contemplative novel leaves the reader with the feeling that each character does the best that they can, given their respective circumstances, which renders them entirely sympathetic.
The nonlinear structure of this story has the effect of mirroring one’s thought process. It is a perfect vehicle for sharpening focus on the life of Keith Gordon as the story of his life unfolds. Keith is the child of West Indian immigrants who succumbed to the lure of England as a better way of life. Keith is a successful social worker whose journey involves eroding the borders that he has placed around his emotions. These limitations lead to a divorce instigated by his response to midlife crisis, in the form of a fling with a younger woman named, Yvette, who just happens to report to him at work. The other partner in the divorce is his wife, Annabelle, who is also the mother of their rebellious son, Laurie.
At the beginning of this novel, one of the biggest story questions is what causes Keith to be so detached from everyone he meets. Many of his actions are illogical, which serve to validate the extent of his being at odds with his own process of aging. Perhaps the greatest example of this behavior is his infatuation with Danuta, a young Polish woman, who he meets at a library while doing research for a book about African American musicians.
Keith’s indiscretion with Yvette causes him to be suspended from his job. As he loses interest in reclaiming it, it seems that his instincts might have told him that his life was about to change to a very great degree. Unsure what to do with himself while not working in his office, he ventures north to see his father from whom he has always been estranged. Before long, his father becomes gravely ill and reveals the story of his life to Keith in extended streams of consciousness that are entirely compelling.
Phillips has written a masterpiece that adds handsomely to his body of work on the subject of diaspora, characteristically dealing with the intricacies of race with tremendous skill. As an exemplary study of character motivations, In the Falling Snow convincingly addresses the big-picture themes of midlife emotions and behaviors; adolescence; race; work/life purpose/artistic pursuits; responsiblity; dreams and aspirations; and above all family, in the splendor of its considerable imperfections. This contemplative novel leaves the reader with the feeling that each character does the best that they can, given their respective circumstances, which renders them entirely sympathetic.
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