Ben Markovits’ novel about marriage and middle age — Cyprus Mail
Ben Markovits’ novel The Rest of Our Lives unfolds in the United States and follows law professor Tom Layward. After his younger daughter enrolls at university, he drives her there and continues a road trip westward across the country. Along the way, Tom returns to memories of his marriage, professional disappointments and his own life choices.
As Cyprus Mail writes in Philippa Tracy’s review, at the beginning of the story Tom recalls his wife Amy’s long-ago affair with a man she knew from synagogue. When Amy told him about it, Tom already knew about the betrayal. She did not want a divorce, at least not until the children had left home.
A journey after the daughter’s departure
The couple’s younger daughter, Miriam, is 18. Tom had agreed with himself in advance that after she entered college, he too would be able to leave, but during the journey he is not sure whether he truly wants this. His reflections focus on his relationship with Amy, which he himself regards as a mediocre marriage.
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The story is told from Tom’s perspective, so Amy’s thoughts about their relationship are unknown to the reader. The protagonist cannot fully move on from her affair and recalls his wife’s beauty with both admiration and resentment. He is also inclined to emphasize her shortcomings and disappointments in her role as a mother.
Work, health and self-esteem
Tom has health problems that he does not want to address, as well as difficulties at work. He is on a break from work, which he has not yet told Amy about, and, as with his medical symptoms, he downplays or misunderstands the seriousness of the situation.
His daughter calls him an angry white man, while his son says that his father has ended up on the wrong side of history. A meeting with former lover Jill prompts Tom to partially acknowledge his own indecisiveness and flaws. The review calls the short novel a thoughtful and moving story about middle age, combining humor, attentive detail and the narrator’s subjective perspective.
