Whether you like James Hynes’ novel Next depends on whether or not you like the book’s unconventional ending. I loved this book up until the last 50 pages. Hynes creates a wonderful character in Kevin Quinn, a 50-year-old editor of an academic journal based at the University of Michigan. Kevin is going through a mid-life crisis and impulsively applies for a job in Austin, TX. The novel describes Kevin’s day from the flight from Ann Arbor to Kevin waiting anxiously for the interview to begin. But, what happens before that–all the soul searching, the analysis of every meaningful relationship in his life–makes Kevin’s story searingly personal. And, funny. Hynes holds nothing back. You get Kevin’s sexual history in intimate detail. That’s why I found the ending a massive cop-out. Hynes’ takes us (and Kevin) to the precipice, but short-circuits the build-up he spent 250 pages developing. I liked James Hynes’ Publish and Perish, The Lecturer’s Tale, and Kings of Infinite Space. Some reviewers are going to proclaim the ending to Next as “bold” but I’m proclaiming it “disappointing.” GRADE: B-
Well, you’ve made me curious.
I’ll be interested in your take of NEXT, Bill. I’m sure some of the Austin references will be familar. And, you’ll enjoy the academic humor.
Me too.
Not curious enough to read it, but I’ll check out his other stuff.
Hynes’ other stuff is pretty good, Jeff. I love the H. P. Lovecraft allusions he weaves into his books.
I was picking up on this in other reviews. I guess I’ll give it a pass.
If you want to know how guys really think, Hynes captures that thought process exactly, Patti. NEXT is a tour de force…until the last 50 pages.
What if I don’t want to know, or don’t care, about all the soul searching, reminiscing, the analysis of every meaningful relationship in his life? (I don’t) This will get a pass. I’m guessing after all this he doesn’t get the job and is glad of it and goes back to the way things were, no better off for the self-searching. I guess I’m just not much into literary fiction these days, but if I was, I’d read some Flannery O’Conner.
James Hynes captures male mid-life angst better than any writer I know, Rick. The ending is nothing like your scenario.
Okay, now I am curious. It doesn’t end with magical realism, does it?
No magical realism ending, Patti. But a sharp disconnect from what preceeded it.