Book Review

Scott Turow's latest work of historical fiction, Ordinary Heroes is pretty awesome. The meta theme I got out of it was that with all parents and children there remains a gap. A place of misunderstanding. A quest for the why's, if you prefer. In this book the main character tries to make sense of his parents, and is able to reconstruct the facts, but somehow seems just as far from understanding as when he starts. It reminds me of a conversation I had with one of Leah's coworkers. An older gentleman who was discussing having recently visited his 80+ year old parents in a nursing home. I asked if he was ever able to ask the outstanding questions. Find the meanings. He said no. They would never be answered. I would like to remember when I have children to frequently utter "You may not agree with what I am telling you right now, and I respect your right to discuss it with me later (say when I am 80), but right now this is my decision and I believe it to be in your best interest.”