| Howard is a Vietnam Veteran living in the house he inherited from his parents living with an unusual group of roommates. His roommates include a Texas-raised Vietnamese woman who runs a catering business and two young house painters. Howard suffered an injury in the war and although he is of normal intelligence, can no longer speak or write and communicates through gestures and noises. Howard has withdrawn from society except for the nuns at the convent where he mows the lawn and his group of roommates.
Sylvia, his high school girlfriend asks him to care for her nine year old son Ryan while she goes to a nearby drug rehab center. Howie is initially overwhelmed by the responsibility but begins to open up to the role of being a father figure. He even takes part in activities such as making breakfast, attending choir concerts and signing Ryan up for little league. Ryan's eight week stay with Howie brings Howie and his housemates closer together. As the time for Sylvia to return comes closer, Howie dreads her returning because he can barely remember life before Ryan. When Sylvia returns, what results is Howie's struggle with facing a life of his own once again. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day) Pregnancy/Child rearing Yes Major part of story: Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - society Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () United States Yes Writing Style Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |
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