The Wilderness

January 15, 2009
Harvey's ambitious debut novel bears compassionate witness to the ravages of mental decline. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Jake retires from his architectural firm and contemplates his past and future. As scenes from Jake's career, marriage, and political activism unfold, readers receive a complex portrait of a not entirely sympathetic protagonist who serves as the ultimate unreliable narrator. Readers who appreciate style will be riveted by the subtle progress of Jake's condition, which Harvey gradually teases out in a slow, deliberate pace with excellent use of language. Flashbacks and third-person narration are also used to good effect, and the dreamlike, stream-of-consciousness passages that appear late in the story will have even careful readers questioning the nature of Jake's reality. Meanwhile, anyone looking for thematic depth will enjoy wrestling with Harvey's subtle commentaries on faith and politics, expressed via Jake's conflicted explorations of his Jewish identity. A treat for literature lovers who appreciate complexity in their novels and aren't afraid to deal with tough topics, this book is recommended for medium to large fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 10/1/08.]Leigh Anne Vrabel, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh

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