THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING by Elyse Friedman (HarperCollins), 286 pages, $26.99 cloth. Rating: NN
If Elyse Friedman weren’t such a good writer, I wouldn’t be so disappointed in her new novel. But it’s precisely because there is so much potential in The Answer To Everything’s premise and because Friedman can master tone – here a combination of satire and heartbreaking realism – that the book is so frustrating.
Perpetual freeloader John, a visual artist, has moved in with psych grad student Amy. Their charismatic neighbour Eldrid is attracting free drugs, financial supporters and disciples with his musings on the meaning of life. When John discovers Eldrid’s appeal, with Amy’s blessing, he establishes the website The Answer To Everything.
Before he knows it, hundreds have logged on to express their spiritual yearning, including a wealthy businessman who owns a mansion near Bayview and Lawrence, a perfect spot for a new live-in institute. Soon the believers come, sex and drugs follow, and Amy and John are making a small fortune.
Friedman has a firm grasp of why so many people are drawn to the Eldrids of the world. But she loses a grip on her characters. John has a sudden change of heart that makes no sense. Confusingly, he is a sexist creep but makes smart, almost feminist, art. Friedman never deals with that paradox.
And Amy becomes a materialist shopaholic out of nowhere. What happened?
The middle section of the book is devoted to the comments from budding believers on why they need the answer to everything. A startling story comes from Heather, the mother of a gender-independent five year-old, who is in deep conflict with her husband over how to parent their child.
It’s a shocking, powerful piece that could stand on its own. And it’s evidence of what Friedman could offer if she decided not to opt for glibness.
Let’s have more of that and less of the easy stuff.
Friedman reads October 25 and joins the You Write Funny panel October 26 at the International Festival of Authors. ifoa.org
susanc@nowtoronto.com | @susangcole
