'Canada' : A Reading Recommendation

   Richard Ford's novel, Canada. published in 2012 is written as the reflection of a man named Del, now in his mid-sixties, on his life. Most of the action takes place when he is fifteen. The action is described and the author tells what Del was thinking and observing at the time.  Del is separated from his twin sister when they are fifteen and their lives take very different directions.
   One of the intriguing aspects of living awhile, or, a long time, i.e., of old age, is seeing how many people, decisions and events turn out.  The recent school reunion that I attended was fascinating as I saw people with whom I'd no contact, sometimes for 50 years or more.  Some of the early 'high fliers' had 'crashed and burned' while others whom I'd judged to have mediocre prospects had built successful lives.
    In Canada the look back in time is the vehicle that transports the story.  Del and his sister. Berner, have very inept parents.  Their incompetence sets the twins on their separate lifelong paths.  It brings to mind the Biblical injunction:

"You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me..." Exodus 20:5

   While it doesn't seem fair to punish children for parent's sins, and it may not be the aim, children certainly often suffer for their parents misdeeds.  That is certainly true in Canada.  Del's parents do not set out to harm their children and, in fact, love them but their decisions have huge consequences.

   I'm glad I read it and thanks to LN who gave it to me for Father's Day.