& Sons by David Gilbert

I enjoyed reading David Gilbert's take on the oft-written about dysfunctional Upper East Side privileged family.  It was cleverly written and had a plot worthy of it's length: the story centers around the sons of a famously reclusive writer in his dying years.  The father, A.N. Dyer regrets his mostly failed attempts at fatherhood with his two sons, Richard and Jamie, (now grown men living out their own ill-fated attempts at happiness) and is heavily invested in improving his reputation as a father with his much younger son, Andy, a half-brother to Richard and Jamie.

Dyer's fame rests largely upon a novel he wrote at a very young age: "Ampersand" passages of which are frequently scattered throughout the story.  "Ampersand" has become an incredibly successful novel; one of those books everyone has read.  It is set in a boys college prep academy, loosely based on Exeter, which Dyer had attended, and tells the story of a boy who has been "kidnapped" and tortured by a gang of cruel classmates.  Is it autobiographical? How closely does it relate to Dyer's life and that of his best friend, Charles, who attended school with Dyer? Correspondence between Dyer and Charles scanning the many years of their friendship are also inserted here and there and add an intriguing layer to their relationship.

Many years later, Dyer collapses at Charles' funeral and feels the need to gather his sons about him and set the story straight; or does he? Dyer's motives and actions are purposely obtuse and often the reader is left to wonder exactly what is going on at this family reunion.

Amidst the angst, sarcasm, and puzzling statements about the past, the story eventually unfolds. There are many clever bits used to subtly bring the reader into the story.  Although & Sons would most likely be classified as a "realist" novel, along the lines of an Updike, about 2/3 of the way through the story, Gilbert throws in a strange curve that certainly defies understanding and damages its realistic style.  It's not a good fit and just sort of hangs there until coming to an abrupt and unhappy resolution.

Putting the failed left turn aside, which was completely unnecessary as far as moving the story forward, I enjoyed & Sons.  I think David Gilbert is smart and clever (the play on the title of the novel and the title of the novel-within-the novel, for example) and shows the potential to totally capture our attention with his next attempt. Fingers crossed!

"Fathers start as gods and end as myths and in between whatever human form they take can be calamitous for their sons."

My rating 2 and 1/2 **