Such Kindness

By: Andre Dubus III

Narrated by: Andre Dubus III

A working-class white man takes a terrible fall.

Tom Lowe’s identity and his pride are invested in the work he does with his back and his hands. He designed and built his family’s dream home, working extra hours to pay off the adjustable rate mortgage he took on the property, convinced he is making every sacrifice for the happiness of his wife and son. Until, in a moment of fatigued inattention, shingling a roof in too-bright sunlight, he falls.

In constant pain, addicted to painkillers at the cost of his relationships with his wife and son, Tom slowly comes to realize that he can never work again. If he is not a working man, who is he? He is not, he believes, the kind of person who lives in subsidized housing, though that is where he has ended up. He is not the kind of person who hatches a scheme to commit convenience-check fraud, together with neighbors he considers lowlifes, until he finds himself stealing his banker’s trash.

Who is Tom Lowe, and who will he become? Can he find a way to reunite hands and heart, mind and spirit, to be once again a giver and not just a taker, to forge a self-acceptance deeper than pride?

Andre Dubus III’s soulful cast includes Trina, the struggling mom next door who sells her own plasma to get by; Dawn, the tough-talking owner of the local hairdressing salon; Jamie, a well-meaning pothead college student ready to stick it to “the man”; and a mix of strangers and neighbors who will never know the role they played in changing a life. To one man’s painful moral journey, Dubus brings compassion with an edge of dark absurdity, forging a novel as absorbing as it is profound.

©2023 Andre Dubus III (P)2023 Recorded Books

Satisfying on every level

The audio version of this novel is narrated by the author, whose clear voice hits all the emotional notes with authenticity. The characters are deeply and beautifully drawn. This story of a man broken by the forces of desire to prove that he has ascended from a difficult, poor childhood, and becomes a victim of subprime adjustable rate mortgages (and his willingness to buy into a banker's slick marketing). His body is broken by a fall in a roofing accident, which spirals into every kind of loss after addiction to pain pills sets in. From a handsome home, where he and his wife can take in sunset over a salt marsh, he lands in grim and grimy public housing, with no financial safety net. Before the fall, he'd considered himself a self-made man. In his Section 8 public housing, he strives to be invisible. He is embittered. All this would be depressing if it weren't for the the character's quest to understand his new life, which leads to sparks of gratitude for the simple gestures of kindness by the characters around him, and for moments of clarity that are post script to some tragic, violent events. This is a deeply reflective work that is transformative.

Images

Andre Dubus III is as brilliant a writer as America has today. His stories are unique and powerful. The characters finally drawn. The images unforgettable in their nearly magical originality and deftness. Underlying it all is personal salvation, hard earned from forgiveness, humility and surrender of self.

Exquisitely Authentic

Dubos’ writing is so descriptive, emotive, and authentic, I nearly put the book down because I didn’t think I could take any more tragedy. One author described the character as Job-like, and it sure did feel like that was going to be the vibe of the story. I am so glad I was stubborn and kept listening. The story offers perspective and hope for even those of us in the worst circumstances. Dubus avoided a fairytale ending or a heavy handed fable-like lesson. It was perfect. Some have criticized the narration, for me, Dubus’ own voice is what helped lend credibility to the character and deepen the emotive quality. The story was real and the voice that tells it should be real too. So very happy I decided to listen to it all the way through.

Such kindness

Believable story; situations are intertwined with raw emotions. The theme of ‘gratitude’ emerges giving perspective to Tom’s lived experiences…this works surprising well. Would have preferred a polished reader.

Lessons learned in a difficult situation

Wonderful reading and story that is created in cold winter scenes in low income housing . The characters reach into us and teach us humility and compassion. Loved it all .

Honesty. Integrity can be regained.

It was a difficult listen at times, all the struggle of just existing. But also a cold, hard reminder we are all a disaster away from everything changing forever. One misstep changed his life, his livelihood and family forever. I will recommend to a few friends who will appreciate all he did to better his life after tragedy. Glad I listened!

A moving though flawed novel

Dubus is a powerful writer and excellent storyteller, though there are flaws that occasionally make this book drag. One to mention immediately is the narration by Dubus himself. He isn’t a terrible reader, and since the novel is in first person it works better than it might have, but it was a mistake for the author to use his amateurish voice instead of hiring a professional. The story of Tom Lowe is moving and expertly crafted. Ultimately, the author slides into sentimentality and repetition in his desire to convey an uplifting message about a benighted life. Yet, Such Kindness has many shining moments, and feels like a critical counterweight to the negativity we see around us. Most people are good, and are redeemable, says Dubus, and we must focus more on such goodness…on “such kindness.”

Needed More

Although this story has stayed with me , I wanted more. The main character is in a subsidized apartment that is very dreary. There’s just a little bit too much of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. The author is the narrator and sets the tone for this Job like character. I wanted a bit more passion-both anger and joy rather than just acceptance.

You Won’t Be Able to Put This Book Down

Andre Dubus III is a polished master of describing how we can all fall, fail and the ensuing despair. Tremendous character development, I felt as if I knew them. An astonishing story that’s tight, extremely well written, and narrated with the level of emotion that the story elicits. Further, this book will help me get out of ten years’ ennui, depression, lethargy. I’ll listen to it again because I know this book is a sacred gift that will propel me to begin living again. I see it as somewhat like a Bible. Thank you, Mr. Dubus. A professor emerita from Dallas. You may have saved, or at the very least have assisted in the saving of my life.

Compelling!

The author takes you on wild ride with a storyline that draws you in slowly. What unfolds is the road from despair to hope! Took a while to get used to the narrator’s style of speaking, but once I did, I was fine.