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Little, Brown, Jan 2005, 23.95 ISBN: 0316156108 Three decades ago while on his first month of duty in Viet Nam, Howard Kapostash suffered a head injury that devastated his communication abilities. Though his intelligence remained average, he no longer could speak, nor write or read. His emotional quotient was already lagging before the trauma and over the subsequent thirty years since has not developed. Howard shares his childhood home with Vietnamese-American Laurel, who makes specialty soups for local restaurants; and Steve and Harrison, two housepainters he calls to himself Nit and Nat. Sylvia dumps her reticent nine-year-old child Ryan on Howard to take care of him while she is away, though he has no experience with children. This dysfunctional commune soon comes together as the four adults responsibly and lovingly rally for the child. As the quartet learn about what life is all about, Sylvia will return soon and take away their catalyst, but will each one slip back to indifference and irresponsibility? Harriet Klausner | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day) Internal struggle/realization? Yes Pregnancy/Child rearing Yes Major part of story: Brain/Body disability? - mental illness Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting United States Yes Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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