The Body of a Young Man

There's a certain resonance about mid-century American novels, set in a time of post-war prosperity and finding under sun-lit surfaces darker ironies and sometimes a ringing hollowness. Richard Yates' "Revolutionary Road," Saul Bellow's "Seize the Day," and John Updike's "Rabbit Run" come to mind. This one, nominated for a National Book Award when it was published in 1960, is among that company. It tells of a summer reunion among old friends in an idyllic setting in the mountains of New England. There are two married couples with their children, and one of the husbands, a physics teacher, has been deeply saddened and unsettled by the suicide of one of his most promising students. The reunion is supposed to help him through his grief. Instead, it becomes a difficult trial of crossed expectations, and the author expertly explores the psychological and emotional dynamics of this foursome as experienced by the two women. Walker is a master of describing the shifting moods and perceptions of her characters as they navigate the dissonances that the years have introduced to what used to be an intensely close friendship. As mature adults now, they discover that the demands of friendship have become far different, and not all of them are up to the task. Choosing the two women as point-of-view characters, Walker deepens the mystery of the relationship between the two men, so that we wonder along with them about the true nature of the conflict that develops between them. The youthful behavior of both couples' sons adds another dimension to this outside observer's perspective of male behavior. Although a short novel, it continues to fascinate in its deepening layers of irony - allowing us to see often the unspoken realities behind the surfaces of polite conversation - right to the very last line: "You did everything you could for them." Thanks to the Unversity of Nebraska Press for keeping this fine book in print.

Another great novel by Walker, complete with solid characters and clear descriptions of a place. In its exploration of a long time friendship between two couples, it asks when are we most ourselves and do we change or mearly become more of who we are and can we ever expect others to understand us. If you've ever wondered why you can't quite connect with old friends, read this.