In the Middle of a Life

by Richard B. Wright

Dust jacket design by Lawrence Ratzkin. His second book.

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Richard B. Wright was a Canadian novelist.

Born in Midland, Ontario, Wright attended Trent University, from which he graduated in 1970. He was the author of 13 published novels and two children's books. Many of his older novels were republished after his novel Clara Callan won three of Canada's major literary awards in 2001: the Giller Prize; the Trillium Book Award; and the Governor General's Award.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love Richard Wright's writing - this novel captures the 1960s with Toronto as a character, but much of the considerations/phrasing was cringy/dated. An interesting reminder of the perspectives we've had, the ways of characterizing and putting reflections that are now reveal misogyny, racism, and prejudices. It was hard to read.

[Kathryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was dry and I tried numerous times to read this... but blah.

[Peter B · Rating 2 out of 5]

An early work and I enjoyed the part about the struggling writer. Fortunately, Mr. Wright got hold of things because the rest of the book is poor.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title pretty much says it all. Fred is middle-aged; looking for work; dealing with his 17 yr old daughter, ex-wife, new lady friend, sister, dying father, and the usual physical issues that come with middle age.

It's the story of an average guy living an average life. Nothing crazy (positive or negative) happen to him, but he still has the usual ups and downs. There is nothing heroic about Fred; he just lives the way most of us do, and that's the point. Normal life is normal life.

A nod to the author for seemless flashbacks and reminiscences that make the reading enjoyable. (But if you want to read this author, I recommend Clara Callan instead.)

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book might have had an alternative title of "My Treatise on Mid-life Misery". I find it difficult to read books written in a stream of consciousness narrative. It's like three flowing ribbons, the author's thoughts, the charactders' thoughts, and the reader's thoughts, all blowing in the wind. John Updike was a master of it, but this book & plot did not live up to that billing. I LOVE the work of this author, but this is an earlier work of Richard B. Wright, and I have to believe that he was honing his craft for later, better works. Time to go cheer up with another novel. Not the way I wanted to start my holidays.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written novel dealing with the mid life crisis that befalls the protagonist, Fred Landon. I can certainly understand and empathize with loosing a job, a difficult 17 yr. old daughter, ex-wife's return, a new lover, a dying father and the list goes on. Somewhat depressing yet there is an aura of hope.

[Maybaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just came across an article about why one should read some "bad" books to the end. The reasoning being so one can learn to discern between what is well written and what is poorly written.

This book...this book...I know it's from the 70's but really, it's just a book of a man whining. It was rather bland and boring and I'm shocked at the accolades it received from prestigious sources. Then again the 70's was a different era that had different expectations from it's white male authors.
There are much better books of Wright's to read such as "October".