Affliction

by Russell Banks

Book Overview

Male violence propels this powerful tale as explosive as Deliverance and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by the author of the highly acclaimed novel Continental Drift.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060161426
• ISBN13: 9780060161422
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 355 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Rugged, tough as nails -- and powerful

There are a lot of books out there by "cowboy poets" or sort of macho-ish writers. "Affliction" has no such pretensions, but it's more austere, rugged, and well-crafted than the best of them.You can read the other reviews for the plot. I won't repeat it. I'll just say this: The relationship between fathers and sons haunts this book like a curse passed down through the generations, and the dynamic of that relationship--and the way it affects the men's lives--gives this book its enormous depth, compassion, and power to shock. An unforgettable read. Really a great novel of American man.

Quite Possible the Saddest Novel I've Ever Read

Film critic Roger Ebert once stated that if someone wanted to understand the psychology of a man driven to abuse his family, they should view Martin Scorsese's RAGING BULL. In that vein, I would like to add the same sentiment to the literary equivilent. If a reader would like a glimpse into the reasonings of a man who abuses those around him, Russell Banks' novel AFFLICTION must be read.AFFLICTION follows the last few weeks in the life of Wade Whitehouse, a small-town police officer, plow driver, and crossing guard, who mysteriously disappears after an act of brutal violence. As related by his brother Rolfe, Wade is an intelligent, deeply emotional man who has let life lead him to his present position. Instead of the dreams of youth he once possessed, he is now darkly cynical, having been divorced twice from the same woman, with a daughter who is slowly coming to hate his intrusive presence. He does not see himself as cynical, however; He remains deeply hopeful, and cannot bring himself to understand why his plans unerringly end up as tragedy.As the story progresses, we grow to truly understand Wade's motivations, and we despair that he cannot see the folly of his increasing paranoia. His disturbing upbringing, under a father who increasingly becomes violent himself, lends an air of melancholy to Wade's depression and growing fits of rage. His inadequacy as a father, his impotence as a figure of authority in the community, speeds him ever faster into ruin, yet he remains unwilling to let go of any scrap of salvation he can grab onto. In this case, it is an accidental death that Wade is reluctant to let go as such, regarding it as a holy grail, an avenue towards eventual redemption.Lest this start to sound like the retelling of the Job parable, I want to make it clear that there is no salvation awaiting Wade, as reward for his tribulations. Banks knows the unforgiving nature of small-town life, the shame that haunts the movements of every member of the village. Wade realizes this, but cannot bring himself to leave. "Hell is other people", he remarks to Rolfe, echoing the philosphy of Jean-Paul Sartre.Some critics have remarked that the narration of Rolfe is an unnecessary distraction, as he continues to describe events and motivations that he could not possibly have knowledge of. But that is precisely the point: We cannot know what moves people to commit the acts they do, we can only theorize, trying to find something to explain away the horror. Rolfe despairs because he can never truly understand. He can only guess, using his own upbringing under their father as a springboard into thoughts and dreams he will never know.Banks has written a wonderful novel about sadness. It is a beautiful, moving piece that hits the reader like a punch to the stomach. It is remarkable.P.S. - Several years ago, a film version of AFFLICTION was released, starring Nock Nolte as Wade. While having had the benefit of seeing the movie first, I think th

great book

I think this is a great book but I disagree with the critique below that talks about the class aspects of the book. I think Banks shows us that the intellectual brother didn't escape anything (though he deceives himself into thinking that he did). Unmarried, childless and unable to relate to people on any intimate level, Rolfe has chosen to completely shut himself down in the face of the brutality he grew up with. He's just as afflicted as Wade, but maybe his education gives him a veneer of normalcy in contrast to his more-obviously troubled brother. In any event, Banks does a great job of delineating a horrifying example of the ongoing chain of father-son damage -- I haven't seen any other author do it as well.

still a winner after ten years

this is still one of the best novels i've ever read , banks is one of the best writers of the century. The sweet hereafter is a wonder as well.

Banks asks us to care about the life of a desperate man.

Affliction is for anyone who picks up their newspaper, scans hurredly through the usual blaring headlines concerning this shooting death and that domestic disturbance, then turns away quick, to the business page or maybe the local weather forecast. But author Banks considers these brutal events, which are usually given shortthrift in our mind's eye and discounted with a shrug and a cold "just another nut." This entrancing work chronicles how one small man's world turns desperate and craven without his consent, or even his knowledge. Wade Whitehouse is living the nightmare of lower class, "white trash" America, but is smart enough to know he wants better. Or at least different. After digesting Affliction, one may not be so quick to discount the person who pumps your gas at the local filling station as just another peripheral obstacle to avoid during the daily rush of life. Because he may have a story to tell you. And it may sound a lot like Wade Whitehouse's story, as told in the great book by Russell Banks.