NEXT By James Hynes

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-

10 thoughts on “NEXT By James Hynes

    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      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.

      Reply
  1. Richard R.

    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.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *