Methinks I misspoke...onto #11...

I just finished ‘The Given Day’ by Dennis Lehane. The story is set in Boston at the beginning of the 20th century and details the lives and experiences of two families, one black and one white. It is a rich tale woven with the multifaceted thread of historical faction. The two main characters are Danny Coughlin (a young cop and son to one of the more corrupt/influential police captains of the time) and Luther Laurence (a young man turned outlaw given an unfortunate run in with a dangerous crime boss). The reason I found this novel so engaging had to do with the deftness with which Lehane was able to interject historical facts (and climate) into a romantic story filled to the brim with family, friendship and love. The book focuses on a time of political unrest, social discord, discrimination, racism, immigration, corruption and revolution. The story only served to ignite my interest in this era; fanning the flames with mention of powerful figures during this time in history (i.e. W.E.B DuBois, Calvin Coolidge and John Hoover), as well a recounting of the origin of the NAACP and the labor unions in this country. During this current time of unrest in the United States, and throughout the world, this book brought to mind the idea that there are always, within the masses, a few individuals that possess a spirit of independence and individuality; an unwavering commitment to an honest truth, no matter the popular sentiment. It brought to the forefront my compassion, understanding and curiosity. Despite the sheer number of characters sprinkled throughout the pages of this book; Lehane was able to give each and every one a magical, or at times infuriating, complexity. Lehane doesn’t shy away from tragedy in order to achieve literary romanticism, but rather paints the misfortune of his characters in such vibrant colors so as to illicit heartbreak from the reader. A successful book to me is one that leaves me wanting for more. More information, more time, just more…and Lehane accomplishes this very task brilliantly.