by Tom McHale
First published 1971
Arthur Farragan sits in his car outside the monastery, wondering if he can actually go through with this retreat. His wife thinks he's having a midlife crisis. His grown children barely speak to him. The family hardware business runs itself these days. At fifty-two, Arthur feels like a stranger in his own life. The week-long retreat was supposed to offer answers, maybe even peace. Instead, Arthur finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about duty, love, and what it means to be a good Catholic man. The other retreatants seem so certain of their faith, while Arthur struggles with doubts that feel like betrayal. As the days pass in prayer and reflection, Arthur must decide whether to return to his comfortable but empty routine or find the courage to rebuild his relationships from scratch.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Monastery
Period: Contemporary
320 pages · Hardcover · Viking