First published 1974
John Singer sits at his usual table in the café, watching the familiar faces around him. The deaf man draws people to him like a magnet. Biff Brannon, who owns the café, finds himself studying Singer's calm presence. Mick Kelly, a tomboyish girl hungry for something bigger than her cramped life, seeks him out to share her dreams. Jake Blount, a bitter alcoholic raging against injustice, pours out his frustrations to the silent listener. Dr. Copeland, a black physician worn down by prejudice and poverty, also confides in Singer. Each person believes Singer understands their deepest struggles. They project their hopes onto his quiet face and gentle gestures. Singer accepts their confessions without judgment, becoming the center around which their lonely lives orbit. But Singer carries his own burden of isolation, mourning his departed friend Spiros. As these damaged souls circle around him, seeking connection and meaning, they discover that understanding comes not from being heard, but from the act of reaching out itself.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, ensemble-cast, outsider-perspective
Setting: Cafe
Period: 20th-Century
320 pages · Paperback · Bantam Books