The Second Coming
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A successful man’s midlife crisis may just provide a twisted path to happiness in this New York Times–bestselling novel by the author of The Last Gentleman. Now in his late forties, Will Barrett lives a life other men only dream of. Wealthy from a successful career on Wall Street and from the inheritance of his deceased wife’s estate, Will is universally admired at the club where he spends his days golfing in the North Carolina sun. But everything begins to unravel when, without warning, Will’s golf shots begin landing in the rough, and he is struck with bouts of losing his balance and falling over. Just when Will appears doomed to share the fate of his father—whose suicide has haunted him his whole life—a mental hospital escapee named Allison might prove to be the only one who can save him. Original and profound, The Second Coming is a moving love story of two damaged souls who find peace with each other.
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Short review: I am trying to read more 20th century literary fiction. Walker Percy seems like someone I should like to read. I knew nothing about the book when I started. It is actually a sequel to the Last Gentleman, but I don't think I miss anything (or at least not much) but not having read that first.
Will is a middle aged, recent widower. He is retired, rich and wandering. He meets Allison, a recently escaped patient from a mental institution that just happens to be the daughter of an old flame of his. Will is both trying to prove the existence of God and to prove his own value and worth as a person.
I liked the book, but I was frustrated that Allison was relegated to side kick status (she seemed more interesting than that) and that the book ended where it did. I wanted it to keep telling the story, but it just stopped.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/the-second-coming/
