That Old Cape Magic is the latest novel from Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist Richard Russo. Russo, who made his mark on American literature with Empire Falls, tells the story of a middle-aged man who deals with the demons of his past in his newest novel.
This novel deals with heavy-handed topics such as failed marriages, death and hidden disturbia in everyday life. Griffin, the main character, is a 50-something man who has it all: a cushy job at a New England college, a beautiful wife and daughter, and a nice, large house. Despite this blessed life, Griffin struggles with himself, unsure of his calling and tortured by the past. He carries around an urn that contains his father's ashes, never able to decide what to do with the remains. This physical luggage represents the emotional baggage he struggles with throughout the novel: his parents' rough marriage, affairs and eventual separation; his failing relationship with his wife, Joy; and his less-than-perfect life, despite the fact that he has everything he thought he wanted.
All of these elements collide when Griffin attends his daughter's best friend's wedding at Cape Cod, Mass., a place that holds special significance for him. Cape Cod was the only place where his parents never argued and his favorite vacation spot during his childhood. Russo depicts Cape Cod as a location with a sort of magic - as evidenced by the title - and as a place that holds "myriad implicit promises and gifts, chief among them the permission to dream."
A year after her friend's wedding, his own daughter Laura is planning her own wedding at the Cape. Sandwiched between these two weddings are tragedies: the dissolution of Griffin's marriage and the death of his mother. Griffin now has two urns to deal with, and has still not decided where to sprinkle the remains of either parent. Laura's wedding forces him to confront his life's circumstances and meet his past head-on.
Although its subject matter is weighty, the novel features some genuinely funny moments, including a disastrous wedding rehearsal. In the end, the loose threads tie up neatly, allowing the reader a sense of closure about Griffin's life.
Despite these elements, That Old Cape Magic was not the kind of novel that left me with the exhilarating sensation some enticing books evoke. Russo, who is considered by many to be one of America's finest writers, struggles to fill the void created by the death of John Updike, an undisputed contemporary great. Although a decent novel, That Old Cape Magic does not measure up to his previous works like Empire Falls and Bridge of Sighs, and it does not come anywhere close to Updike's masterpieces.
As a stand-alone novel, it reads fine. In the context of literature and Russo's prior work, however, I was left disappointed. At times, the humor felt forced, and the larger-than-life characters never resonated deeply with me, leaving them as mere caricatures. Russo attempts to tackle huge themes, such as the tears and broken seams in average American life and the importance of relationships. Yet, he never approaches the profundity and careful thought necessary to seriously broach these topics.
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