Helpful Score: 2
I finally gave up on the book with only 50 pages left to read. I realized that no matter how it ended I just didn't care. The author jumps between three different time periods in the main character's life without many clues as too what time period he is referring to. Another big frustration is at the beginning the main character does not refer to his wife by name (you just assume it is one of the characters from earlier in his life) then all of a sudden, with no big reveal and not even at an important point in the story, we get her name. Other than the narrator, most of the characters seem like one dimensional stereotypes. Overall a long winded read that goes no where.
Helpful Score: 1
Sometimes Ethan Canin's writing is almost as good as Philip Roth's. Like Roth, he has the ability to write rich, graceful, not-didiactic sentences that make you feel and think at the same time. In some ways, he is better than Roth is at creating a narrative that hangs together and makes sense. In this novel, Canin tries, mostly successfully, to talk about America's class society and the men, and sorry it is men in the story, who escape it and, in some cases, alter it forever. The focus is on a Ted Kennedy like-politician, who does enormous good, but manages through his selfishness and personal excess to bring down himself and the wealthy and liberal family who supports his run for president.
Although it's a fairly long book, it moves quickly during much of the story. I enjoyed the storyline alternating between time periods and found the political aspects interesting. I would have enjoyed the author drawing out the characters more to fill in some of the changes in the story, but it was still a good read.
