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After something heavy like Sebald's "The Emigrants," it is always nice to lighten up with something fun. Like when one cleanses one's palette with salad after an elaborate Italian meal. In rare cases, the fun items turns out to have a heft of the substantial to it, which is why William Landay's novel, "Defending Jacob" is such an unexpected surprise.
And it continues to surprise in many ways, right up to the shocking (though not altogether unfamiliar) conclusion on the last page.
If, like me, you are hooked on "Law And Order," this story's premise will grip you from the first. A fourteen year old boy is found murdered in a park, near where he goes to school. The boy, Ben Rifkin, is a classmate of the one who is charged with his killing--Jacob Barber, the son of prominent DA Andrew Barber, of Newton, MASS.
This is a very complexly structured narrative; told clearly from Andy's point of view, it alternates between how the events leading up to the murder and trial happened, and veiled references to a Grand Jury testimony, which the reader discovers is taking place after the central events. But why? That is part of the surprise.
All of the expected issues are explored--bullying, pedophilia, even family criminal genealogy. I don't want to give the twist away, but readers of mine familiar with either or both "The Bad Seed" and the movie "The Good Son" will recognize similarities in Landay's startling denouement, which never for a second did I see coming.
The most interesting thing Landay does is give us no conclusions about Jacob. Did he kill Ben Rifkin, or not? Is he guilty or innocent? Who actually killed Ben Rifkin? Much as I like things tied neatly in packages of resolution, I have to hand it to Landay, whose narrative gives one something to think about, long after the last page has been turned.
This is an author worth keeping an eye on. "Defending Jacob" may explore already familiar turf, but its execution thereof is skilled and masterful!!!!!!!!!!
Have fun, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 comments:
Eight years later...
Never read the book, but just watched the miniseries adaptation made for the Apple streaming service starring Chris Evans (yum!) as Andy, Michele Dockery as Laurie, and Cherry Jones as Joanna Klein. Very well done, although the pacing is a bit slower than necessary to stretch what should have been six hours to eight (if it weren't for Evans being such smoking hot eye candy, and Dockery giving her first major "American" performance after a decade as Downton Abbey's Lady Mary, it might have been a slog, but they make every minute interesting).
The ending is very ambiguous, similar but not identical to the novel ending from what I gather. The performances really sell it, although I found the actor who plays Jacob (Jaeden Martell of "It Pt1") a little too on-the-nose casting wise. He was kinda creepy as ten year old Bill in "It" and extremely creepy as Jacob, to the point you don't for a second doubt that he killed Ben. Its a tribute to Evans and Dockery that you do fully believe their conviction he's innocent whenever they're on screen. But any minute Martell walks into a scene, he might just as well be twirling a mustache.
My Dear,
I did not watch this, because
I liked the book so much, and did not
think it could do it justice. Especially
with that ending.
You have a birthday card on its way
in the mail. It may not get there in
time, but it will arrive!
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