Title: The Condition
Author: Jennifer Haigh
First published July 1, 2008
400 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780060755782 (ISBN10: 0060755784)
Rating: 3.52
Overview
Jennifer Haigh’s The Condition delves into the lives of the McKotch family, a seemingly perfect New England clan whose world is shattered during a fateful summer in 1976. After a shocking discovery about their daughter Gwen’s genetic condition, the family struggles to cope with the fallout for the next twenty years.
Frank and Paulette’s marriage dissolves into bitter acrimony, while their sons Billy and Scott lead lives of compromise and regret. Meanwhile, Gwen, who remains trapped in the body of a child due to her condition, withdraws from the world around her until she unexpectedly falls in love.
Through the McKotches’ story, Haigh explores the power of family mythology and the inescapable truths that bind us together. With wit and unflinching honesty, The Condition is a poignant and compassionate tale of a family in crisis.
About the Author
Jennifer Haigh is a talented American author who writes both novels and short stories. Her latest work, MERCY STREET, tackles the controversial topic of abortion rights, delving into the life of Claudia Birch, a counselor at a women’s clinic in Boston.
In her previous novel, HEAT AND LIGHT, Haigh explores the divisive issue of fracking in a Pennsylvania town. This book was awarded the title of Best Book of 2016 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and NPR.
Among Haigh’s other works is FAITH, a novel centered around a Boston priest accused of molesting a child in his parish. Another novel, THE CONDITION, tells the story of a woman diagnosed with Turner’s Syndrome during her childhood.
Haigh’s debut novel, MRS. KIMBLE, won the PEN/Hemingway Award for first fiction.
Her second novel, BAKER TOWERS, became a New York Times bestseller and won the PEN/L. L.
Winship Award for outstanding book by a New England author. Additionally, her short story collection NEWS FROM HEAVEN won both the Massachusetts Book Award and the PEN New England Award in Fiction.
As a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and a graduate of the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Haigh’s writing has been published in eighteen languages. She also frequently contributes to The New York Times Book Review, and her works have received critical acclaim.
Editoral Review
In Jennifer Haigh’s The Condition, she tackles an emotional family drama that explores themes of identity, illness, and the complexities of human relationships. Haigh is an American novelist and short-story writer, known for her skillful depictions of working-class characters and the intricacies of small-town life.
The novel centers around the McKotch family, who live in a wealthy suburb of Boston. Paulette and Frank McKotch have been struggling with their marriage for years, but the birth of their daughter, Gwen, who has an intersex condition, deepens the rift between them.
As Gwen grows up, she must grapple with her unique identity while also navigating her parents’ strained relationship and her brother’s rebellion. Haigh’s writing is subtle and nuanced, weaving together multiple perspectives and timelines to create a rich tapestry of human experience.
Her descriptions of the Massachusetts landscape and the McKotch family home are vivid and evocative, adding texture to the emotional themes of the story. One of the strengths of The Condition is Haigh’s ability to create fully realized, complex characters.
Paulette, for example, is a fascinating study in contradictions. She is a successful surgeon who prides herself on her rationality and detachment, yet she is deeply vulnerable and insecure in her personal life.
Frank is similarly multifaceted, grappling with feelings of inadequacy and resentment towards his wife while also demonstrating deep love and devotion to his children. At times, the novel can feel slow-paced, especially in the lengthy flashback sequences that reveal the history of the McKotch family.
However, the payoff is worth it as the story builds towards an emotional climax that is both cathartic and heart-wrenching. The Condition is a poignant exploration of the human experience, full of both tenderness and raw emotion.
Haigh highlights the importance of empathy and understanding, even in the face of life’s greatest challenges. Readers who enjoy family dramas that delve into the complexities of relationships will find much to appreciate in this book.
Overall, I highly recommend The Condition to anyone looking for a compelling and well-crafted novel. The book is a stunning portrait of a family in crisis, and Haigh’s writing is a testament to the power of empathy and emotional insight.
I give it a score of 4 out of 5 stars.
