Leaving the World
Douglas Kennedy
Atria, Jun 15 2010, $16.00
ISBN: 9781439180785
Jane Howard celebrates her thirteenth birthday with her family when she makes a cryptic comment that no one is happy. The next morning her dad quoting her profound statement on happiness leaves.
Jane internalizes what happened, blaming herself. She locks away her feelings and turns to the academic world for sustenance. At Harvard she has an affair with her married thesis adviser, who dies in an accident; which affirms her belief people leave. Jane makes a fortune in the finance world, but turns to teaching at a minor Boston university. She falls in love with film archivist Theo and they have a child, but he steals her money while running off with his new partner. Once again Jane learns men leave. However, she finds a new interest a child-murder investigation in Calgary.
A lot happened to Jane but she courageously is accepting that sh*t happens as That’s Life (Sinatra), but what makes her an admirable heroine is that “Each time I find myself flat on my face I pick myself up and get back in the race”; she never quits. Readers will root for Jane who tells her entertaining tale in which “Some people get their kicks stompin' on a dream But I don't let it, let it get me down.” That’s Life.
Harriet Klausner
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