Andre Dubus, III

Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III took me on an unexpected journey through the life of Tom Lowe. Dubus’ narrative style of gradually revealing Tom’s character— the man he was, the man he has become, and the man he wants to be— kept me engaged in the story. We meet Tom at a very low point in his life. He harbors resentment towards the banker and the system that manipulated him into an adjustable-rate mortgage when he wanted to fulfill his dream of building a house for his family. Tom is also suffering from physical pain stemming from a roofing accident while working as a carpenter. His addiction to pain pills also cost him his relationships with his wife and son. Tom’s inability to work as a carpenter and living in subsidized housing do not match how he identifies himself. The other characters living in Tom’s building become instrumental influences in changing his self-perception and worldview.

Such Kindness is truly a sad story of how one man’s life changed for the worse in a single moment. It’s also interesting to witness that man’s change process from finally seeing his predicament objectively, to accepting his reality, and implementing change. Dubus’ portrayal of this process is remarkably realistic. For instance, Tom demonstrates a willingness to acknowledge his wrongdoings, but not everyone is easily receptive. It represents that change often requires time and consistent effort. Personally, I found the conclusion somewhat abrupt, as I wanted to follow Tom’s life a little bit longer. I wasn’t ready for the story to end. Although the ending was realistic and satisfying.

It’s been a long time since I read The Garden of Last Days. I found it delightful to venture back into his unique fictional world. I purchased Such Kindness through my Audible subscription, and I was impressed by the author’s narration.

I have photos and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog… (more)

This is a really raw book.

In a 1946 book, author Paul Gallico—best remembered now as the author of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE—wrote something that has been co-opted or slightly reworded by authors ever since. He said, "It is only when you open your veins and bleed onto the page a little that you establish contact with your reader."

This is what Dubus does with this book. It's not an easy book to read by any means, and the reader can almost feel Dubus as he squirms, relaying uncomfortable truths about himself that most of us wouldn't admit.

Dubus, throughout his life, has seemed to struggle with growing up poor, in moving a lot so always being the outcast, in being first bullied, then fighting back and responding with violence, in growing up where physical work was the way to gain respect.

Contrast that with the man who is wealthy, who built his own home and has a safe place for him and his family, who has turned his back on violence and now only wants peace, in making a living putting words on a page.

The reader can feel these paradigm shifts twisting him, and Dubus struggles with them. He loves guns, but refuses to have one in the house. He never wants to fight, but still feels the thrill of it.

I imagine this is much of what John Lennon also struggled with...a violent youth that begged for world peace, an abandoned kid who grew into global adoration, from having little money to having more than he knew what to do with, yet sang of "having no possessions."

Dubus conveys these struggles beautifully. He's a master of language, and he gets to the heart of the issue, then slices into it to reveal those painful truths.

In other reviews, I'm reading the complaints of the repetition of facts, and they're not wrong, there is, however, I suspect these were a collection of separate essays written over different times. Taken separately, the explanations would have been required and, to be honest, while there is repetition, it's also brief.

Andre Dubus III is always someone worth reading, whether it's his fiction, or his non-fiction.… (more)

This is a really bleak, desolate novel. It's often truly depressing.

And, as per usual with Andre Dubus III, it's truly brilliant. Dubus creates the most real characters—often from those that most of us pass by without ever noticing—and gives them such humanity, such pathos and, yes, such kindness.

This story is the journey of one man who, through some truly devastating losses, seems to finally look up to see the light, despite being surrounded by so much darkness.

Dubus never fails to deliver a thought-provoking story, and this one is no different.… (more)