THE FRIEND
by
Sigrid Nunez
The Friend, by Sigrid Nunez, is the
winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction. And, in the case of this
lovely, little book, the honor is well deserved.
Her best
friend and mentor, a writer, committed suicide. He left behind wife number
three, a dog, and the friend (who ended up with the dog). Apollo, a huge Great
Dane who was rescued, is also grieving – and is unwanted. The surviving friend
ends up with Apollo, despite the fact that her lease prohibits her from having
a dog in her apartment. The Friend is
a glimpse into their lives. It is about suicide and dogs; grief and love;
writing and teaching. This is a book without names – except for the dog
(although the surviving wife might be considered to have a name – “wife number
three” – it is more a distinguishing label than a name). Apollo is the only
“real” name. I am not quite sure why there is a dearth of names; perhaps Nunez
believes this will help focus the reader on the raw feelings associated with
the friend’s loss and the subsequent bond she develops with Apollo. Whatever
the motivation, it has an interesting effect.
I generally
love books about writers and writing and about dogs. But, The Friend is a little different. I didn’t just love the book – I
fell in love with it. This was an evolving process. And, that process
continued, and my love continued to grow, long after I finished reading.
The Friend is not a large work, but a
great deal is encapsulated within its small structure. It is a powerful reading
experience, and I highly recommend it.
