Independence Day by Richard Ford

This 1995 book by Richard Ford won the Pulitzer Prize and the Pen/Faulkner award. The only book ever to win both. Knowing this and having read the first book in this series, The Sportswriter, one expects a great deal from the book. Fortunately the reader is well rewarded.

In this book a few years have passed since we last saw Frank Bascombe of Haddam,New Jersey. His first wife has now remarried, she, her her husband and his children live in suburban Connecticut. Frank now sells real estate and is successful doing so.

The book takes place over the titled holiday weekend. Frank is trying to collect rent from some tenants that seem not to find him as charming as he thinks they should while at the same time he is trying to get a middle aged Vermont club with confusion and doubt about every move they make into a home they both can afford and desire.

He spends time with his the owner operator of a hotdog/root-beer stand he is the silent partner owner of, tries to make sense of his newest relationship, with Frank no relationship is easy. He is happy and accepting of things as they are and wonders why women always worry about what comes next rather than enjoying what is.

The largest storyline however is Frank's relationship with his now teenage son Paul. Paul has had a couple brushes with the law, is exhibiting some nervous habits that could be considered mental stresses and altogether concerning his Mother. In short Paul is obsessed with his pet dog who died years ago and well....Paul barks at times. It seems to be a stress release and Frank is not that shook up over it but knows that some under it all cause is looming.

Doubting his parenting and influence both in the past and presently Frank as he does in The Sportswriter seems to have the longest, deepest, most abstract internal conversations with himself. Like no one I think I know. Certainly more than me.

It is no wonder Frank has trouble talking in real facts and not as " he wishes they would be", his ex wife's opinion, he is having such a constant internal dialogue he cannot speak an external word.

Still trying to be Updike and awards or no this is not Updike. Rabbit Angstrom was more likable and easier to relate to, at least for me. A great book none the less and I do look forward to the last in the series. Still Frank Bascombe is not someone you would want to spend time with each day. We all have the friend who has a deep thought everyday, and sometimes, sometimes you just want to talk about the ball game last night.

So a great book yes, is the third book on my list, absolutely. Do I need a break from Frank first. Yes, most definitely.