Pas de deux

I hate to make comparisons, but in an effort to characterize this book (and recommend it), I would draw parallels to John Gardner's "Mickellson's Ghosts." The novel is set in a Seattle-area college town. The protagonist is a middle aged divorced man whose wry views of academic life are amusing and enlightening. Not taking himself or his career as a professor too seriously, he stumbles out of loneliness into an unlikely love affair. Amidst the concerns of students and teaching responsibilities, the affair starts with kinky twists, develops into something with emotional depth, and then takes a sudden turn into highly unexpected territory. Lange's writing is rich and involving, with his observations acid and characterization revealing. The plot is unique in my reading experience, and I have over the years re-read it several times since it was published in the early 80's.