Contemporary Reads: A Home at the End of the World

A Home at the End of the World is a novel by American writer Michael Cunningham.

It has four main characters/narrators: Bobby, who lost his oldest brother whom he worshipped when he was a lad and then his parents, and ended up living with his best friend's family as a teenager; Jonathan, Bobby's best friend; Alice, Jonathan's mum; and Clare, Jonathan's New York City extravagant roommate.

Every chapter is narrated in the first person by the character who gives the chapter its name. The novel is divided into 3 parts:

Part I describes both Bobby's and Jonathan's childhood and youth. It also gives us an insight into Alice's anodyne married life and motherhood in Cleveland. It contains the shocking moment of the death of Bobby's brother, Carlton, followed by the deaths of his mum and then his dad. In this first part Bobby and Jonathan's friendship develop and they have their first sexual experiences together.

Part II follows Jonathan's life in New York and introduces his flatmate, Clare. It also describes Jonathan's parents' retirement move to Arizona. About to be left alone in Cleveland, Bobby moves to New York with Jonathan and Clare. Soon, Clare will entice Bobby into bed with her and without never quite becoming an item they start their liaison. This will alienate Jonathan who will realise that he is in love with them both and will move out unannounced. He will reappear months later. Jonathan's dad dies on this part of the novel and it is Clare, Bobby and Jonathan's attendence to his funeral that would be the catalyst for their reunion. On their road trip back to New York, Clare annouces that she is pregnant and it is decided that the three of them will raise up the kid as a family. Clare buys a house in Woodstock and a derelict café, The Home Café, that Bobby and Jonathan will make theirs while she looks after baby Rebecca at home. The three of them finally form a family.

Part III sees the return of Jonathan's lover, Erich, who had appeared briefly on part II before Jonathan decided to dissapear. Erich is now very ill and starts spending his weekends at Woodstock with the rest of the family. Alice gives Ned's ashes to Jonathan. Clare decides to take her daughter and go away leaving the café and the house to Bobby and Jonathan. As Jonathan finally feels at home he decides to scatter Ned's ashes.

This is a very fine novel by a very fine writer. It has been adapted to film but please do not waste your time with it (I did). The movie version is a much lower product.

Other books I've read by the same author: The Hours