Seize the Day
Saul Bellows (Thanks, Casey!)
Tommy Wilhelm has reached his forties and is scared. He considers himself a failure – at his marriage, at his career, with his father, and at his finances. He is a broken man, past saving himself. Rescued by the likes of a mentor/con man, he has one monumental day where he reviews his past mistakes in light of forgiving himself and learning to “live in the here and now” and “seize the day”.
The book ends with a beautiful scene in which Wilhelm stumbles by accident into a funeral procession. He is led towards the dead body, and after holding back his tears for most of the book, he breaks down here and cries his eyes out. In the end, there is no neat resolution of all his problems, but instead there is a moment of catharsis.
Bellows did a fantastic job in this short novella of characterizing the trenches we sometimes can find ourselves in. The main character was a sad, weak man, yet one that, in some moments, we can all identify with. He was not what he thought he would be, nor where he’d be and ultimately he was disappointed.
It has been said: “When the student is ready, the teacher will arrive.” I believe this to be true and this book was a great example
This sounds like a book I would enjoy. I will definitely read it. I love you. Mom
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