Any "coming-of-age" novel has the dangerous potential of quickly becoming a cliche. In the hands of Tama Janowitz, the maturation process of Earl Przepasniak is a rollicking adventure of lucky opportunities, ironic misfortunes, and chance meetings -- featuring a cast of memorable characters that includes rich nymphomaniac models, an aged celebrity and a dysfunctional family.
Earl is blessed with being a child during the 60s, born to parents who represent everything that is mocked about the sterotypical 60s culture: self-absorption, drug experimentation, philandering, and a complete lack of a sense of parental responsibility. Earl's father and mother separate early in the story. He and his brother, Bobo, are forced to live with their unemployed, emotional poetess-mother so that their father can carry on like a bachelor while providing very meager paternal support (financial and emotional).
The novel interestingly contrasts the ways that the divorce affects the two brothers: Earl becomes highly emotional and driven by a search for acceptance from without, while his brother becomes seemingly absent of emotion. I would have liked to see more character development of Bobo, but alas, the story is written from Earl's point of view, so we only get his side of the story.
Earl's long journey into adulthood takes him to England where he questions which parent he is most like, which he emulates, and which he truly wants to please. He arrives in England a nobody. A clean slate. As luck would have it, Earl hooks up with an insecure model, a nymphomaniac heiress, and an ageing actress who all serve to aide with his sexual coming-of-age, but leave him still emotionally confused. In trying to live up to what he thinks are his libido-driven father's expectations for him, Earl finds himself becoming more and more like his father, while pushing to the background the sensitive side of himself that took after his mother, whom he loved very much. Watching this inner struggle, you begin to wonder if there is a truly individual Earl inside of Earl.
I found this tortured emotional struggle to be alternatingly like watching either a train wreck or a golf match: in one, you can anticipate the gruesome outcome, and in the other, you find yourself sitting through a long, slow series of events just to see who is going to win.
Fun and fascinating characters help get the reader through some of the slower parts of the book. Anyone who has read other Janowitz novels will recognize her hip ascerbic style of exploring human relations. This is a great book if you've just finished reading something very heavy or deep -- light and entertaining.
