Book Review: A Home at the End of the World

*I mentioned yesterday about
 the upcoming Heath Ledger
stuff so what do I do? Review
something that has nothing to
do with him, duh!

In 1990’s, A Home at the End
of the World, Michael
Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-
winning author of The Hours,
brings to life the trials, triumphs,
 loves and losses over a dozen
years in the lives of two best
friends, Bobby and Jonathan.  

The book opens in suburban
 Cleveland in the 60s and after
 chronicling the two boys’ early
 childhood, the lonely Jonathan
meets the introverted and
inarticulate Bobby. Their
 friendship soon crosses over
 into something more as the
pair blur the line between
friends and lovers.

After going their separate ways,
 the two reunite in 1980s New
York City when a now
heterosexual Bobby moves in
 with gay Jonathan and soon
falls in love with Jonathan's
 eccentric roommate, Clare.
Bobby and Clare's relationship
 develops, spoiling Jonathan's
plans to have a baby with her.
 Feeling like he has become a
third wheel, Jonathan is ready
to return home when Clare
declares her unexpected
pregnancy.

The trio forms a sort of family,
moving to upstate New York.
This happiness is short lived,
however, when Clare takes her
daughter and leaves. Now
alone the two childhood friends
face their past relationship and
attempt to navigate their lives
together.

This book was made into a
movie starring Colin Farrell a
few years back. I went all the
way down to lower Manhattan,
for the sole reason of seeing
this film,  and made my way to
the only theater it was playing
at, in the pouring rain (in pants
that turned almost see-through
btw. I admit that it was worth it,
Farrell was outstanding as was
the supporting cast, but do
yourself a favor and read the
book. Sure you can go down to
your local Blockbuster or watch
it instantly from Netflix, but even
if you do that, read it too. Along
with getting some much needed
leisure, you won’t have to deal
with scenes the FCC deemed
inappropriate being cut out.
(One in particular that involved
a steamy love scene that Farrell
did full frontal nudity-NOT FAIR)
Even worse, if you catch it on
TV, it’s been chopped apart to
fit commercials. So find a comfy
chair, get some hot chocolate
(or coffee), and curl up with a
novel that’ll all but read itself.