The Essence of Nathan Biddle, by J. William Lewis, is one of the more satisfying debut novels that I have read for a long time. Here, Lewis, himself an Alabama native, uses the Alabama coastal region of the 1950s as setting for the coming-of-age story of a remarkable young man, Kit Biddle, a high school senior who may just be a little too intelligent for his own good. It can’t be a good sign when a high school student starts obsessing too much over questions about the meaning of life and why others insist on seeing him through their own versions of reality. Kit feels like a fraud, and he doesn’t like to feel that way.
But to Kit’s credit, if anyone has a reason to wonder about the meaning of life and who he really is, it’s probably him. Kit and his mother only moved to the city after Nathan Biddle, Kit’s cousin, was murdered by his own father, a man who still believes that he sacrificed the little boy only because God instructed him to do exactly that. Crazy Uncle Nat, as Kit has thought of him ever since, practically destroyed his whole family that day. Although Kit’s other uncle, Newt, is only eight years older than him, Kit grew up believing that Newt was always right, that he knew all the answers to all the important questions. When, after the murder Newt “dropped out of everything except beer joints,” Kit had to start answering even life’s toughest questions for himself.
Despite the Biddle family tragedy, an event of which almost everyone in town is well aware, Kit is doing pretty well for himself before being unceremoniously dumped by Anna, his brilliant and breathtakingly beautiful girlfriend. He is probably the fastest runner on the school’s track team, and he is well on his way to being ranked high in the top ten graduates of his entire class. After Anna’s rejection, however, Kit decides to start doing things his way; he will be the person he knows himself to be, not the person everyone else believes, or wants, him to be. And the next thing Kit knows, he is speeding down the highway in a stolen golf course maintenance truck, about to have the terrible accident that will change the rest of his life. If he really wants answers to life’s big questions, he is going to have to have help. And it is going to be a long way back.
Bottom Line: The Essence of Nathan Biddle, while not exactly a feel-good novel, is certainly an inspirational one. It is impossible not to pull for Kit Biddle as he goes through his emotional and physical struggles — and it is equally difficult not to worry about the girl who comes into Kit’s life after Anna - so when Kit finally turns the corner by openly confronting the Biddle family problems, the reader feels a sense of relief for both of them. Maybe Kit is smart enough to figure out all the answers after all.
 |
| J. William Lewis |
Review Copy provided by Publisher
I had not heard of this one. It sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThe characters are all pretty interesting ones, Dorothy. The only thing I think was a bit of a stretch to me was some of the philosophical conversations between Kit and his best friend. It's a little hard for me to imagine that was happening on such a regular basis between a couple of high school seniors no matter how smart they were. But it was necessary for the plot to make sense, so...
DeleteThis sounds rather good and one I hadn't heard of.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it, Diane, and I think it deserves a look. It's a first-novel from a writer at a relatively late stage in his life, and I always find that interesting.
DeleteWow. I've seen this book on Goodreads, but did not know what it's about. It sounds like a book that packs quite an emotional punch. And Kit sounds like an amazing character.
ReplyDeleteKit is definitely an interesting character, as is his Uncle Newt. Strangely, though, I worried more about Kit's second girl friend than I worried about Kit...even when he was feeling suicidal.
DeleteYeah I usually like coming of age tales ... as they often get under my skin. Now what about the 2nd girlfriend .... is she a help or a hinder?
ReplyDeleteThe second girlfriend deserves better. I was more worried about how he treated her than vice versa.
DeleteSounds like an interesting story and a good setting. I remember you mentioning this book earlier. Looks like it lived up to your expectations.
ReplyDeleteSome reviewers have called it "pretentious," but that tone didn't particularly bother me. The only thing that made me wonder a bit was just how brilliant some of the conversations between these high school kids were. That struck me as a bit unrealistic more than once.
Delete