Such Kindness (by 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.
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