Wavemaker II: A Novel - Hardcover

Set in the summer of 1964, Hughes's lyrical, poignant debut chronicles the erosion of the tightly knit Clemens family after Will, dutiful husband and father of two, is imprisoned for withholding testimony in an investigation of the activities of controversial attorney Roy Cohn. As the narrative alternates points of view, Kay, Will's despondent wife, spends her time mulling over her husband's predicament, caring for young son Bo who's stricken with cancer in a New York hospital and juggling needy daughter Lou-Lou, who's growing up too fast at the family's home in lazy oceanfront Rumson, N.J. As Will is distanced further from Kay and is sentenced to a year in jail, the grateful Cohn comes to the Clemenses' aid by enlisting his personal friend Dr. Bronson to help with Bo's case. A seasoned medical professional, Bronson tries a new procedure, using Will's stem cells to successfully treat Bo's disease. In succinct, clipped sentences, Hughes relays the intricate, heart-wrenching details of Bo's sickness and gives an account of Will's jailhouse days, which are filled with distrust and danger. Cohn, historically painted as a monster, is portrayed here as compassionate and appreciative of Will's allegiance; once Will is acquitted of his charges, Roy becomes an instant part of the Clemens clan. Hughes's slice of mid-20th-century culture is fascinating, and her fictional recreation of the notorious Cohn, though many will find it implausible, is highly original. Indeed, Cohn's unique characterization adds some much-needed heft to a somewhat undernourished plot. But even when Cohn is not on stage, the story remains moving and vital. Agent, Melanie Jackson.

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*Starred Review* The Clemens family has been brought low--the father, Will, has been sent to prison for refusing to testify against infamous McCarthy-era lawyer Roy Cohn; in addition, his son, Bo, has been diagnosed with cancer. Will's elegant wife, Kay, is constantly on the move between the hospital and her home and on the phone with lawyers as she struggles to keep her family afloat, while fourth-grader Lou-Lou, deeply missing her family, is shuttled among the neighbors. Meanwhile, the surprisingly childlike Roy Cohn, like some imperial elf, delights in throwing fancy parties and, behind the scenes, paying the Clemens' bills. This compassionate, subtle first novel is a revelation. Hughes' fluid prose and judicious selection of scenes add immeasurably to the complexity of the story--we see seven-year-old Bo in the art room of the hospital as he is fishing for information about the health of a former patient while also paying tribute to her by recalling her slapdash paintings and her favorite meal. His dignified nonchalance is a trait he shares with his dad, who sails through the harrowing prison scenes untouched, only cracking when he is informed that he is about to be released. This is a beautiful book. Joanne Wilkinson
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