The Heart of Henry Quantum

August 15, 2016
Harding’s debut novel is a winsome tale of an unexpected love triangle late in life. Set in San Francisco, the book’s titular protagonist is an unhappily married 40-something advertising executive, a day-dreaming philosopher who wants to be a writer. When Henry Quantum sets out to buy a last-minute Christmas gift for his wife, Margaret, a high-powered real estate broker, he runs into a former lover, Daisy. Told from the points of view of Henry, Margaret, and Daisy, all on the same day, December 23, this story is about defining love when you’re spiritually confused and full of self-deception. Henry walks through his day on “an almost pilgrimage,” a “sainte terrer. That’s right, a saunterer! A Holy Lander!” He seeks to experience life “in the moment in which it occurs.” Perhaps Henry’s voice is a bit too stream-of-consciousness, with some sections confirming Margaret’s frequent complaint that his mind wandering can be annoying. Despite this, Henry is a fully formed, emotionally resonant character; Margaret, on the other hand, is one-dimensional: hard, assertive, and unfeeling. As the past is revealed to the reader and Henry must chose his future, the alternating viewpoints add velocity to this fun, fanciful story that will keep readers guessing until the end. Agent: Michael Carlisle, Inkwell Management.