Read Time:2 Minute, 10 Second
When Michael was in college, he was invited to a mysterious place called Egypt, the majestic home of his friend, Adam Hanbury. There, he met Adam’s eccentric family—his outgoing father, his wealthy stepmother, and his mother, who was perfectly comfortable with her arrangement as a frequent guest at her ex-husband’s home. Now, years later, Michael still holds on to a vivid memory of his time at Egypt, and he often thinks about his friendship with Adam, who still lives nearby, though they’ve grown apart over the years.
When the balcony on Michael’s home collapses right behind him, he decides that it’s time to reconnect with his old friend. Over the phone, Adam tells Michael that he could use some help on his father’s farm, since the farm’s ewes are about to give birth, and Adam’s father is in the hospital. So Michael packs up his three-year-old son, Hamish, and says good-bye to his wife, Rebecca—who’s quite happy to see the two of them go.
On Michael’s return to Egypt, however, he finds that things aren’t quite as he remembers them. Adam’s stepmother, Vivian, spouts out complaints while cooking them barely-edible meals in her dark kitchen. Adam’s mother, Audrey, complains that her allowance has been cut off. Strange, bitter siblings come and go through the house, which seems to have been taken over by the family’s uncontrollable hounds. And Adam’s father, Paul, complains that no one’s been to visit him in the hospital. As if that weren’t enough, Adam also confides in Michael that he’s seen his father’s books, and the farm’s running at a huge loss.
During his visit, Michael gains new perspective on the things he’d always held as true. Not only does he see Adam’s family in a new light, but he also sees his marriage, his wife, and himself differently, too.
In the Fold is a darkly comedic novel by Whitbread Award winner Cusk. It’s definitely not cheery chick-lit, though each of the characters is amusing in his or her own quirky way. It took me a while to get into the slow-moving, reflective story—and, to be honest, I never could get fully into it. While many of the characters are intriguing, the story itself had the same dark, drab feeling of the Hanbury family’s old home. And although I found the book well-written and thoughtful, it was just a bit too dreary for my taste.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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