Douglas Kennedy – Afraid of the Light – Review

 

There's a little synchronicity regarding this latest novel from Douglas Kennedy. I completed the text last night and arose this morning to read an article from Chris Hedges that concerns itself with the Christian fascist Right and their power throughout American politics. In Afraid of the Light, the story is about a Christian militant-anti-abortion terrorist group. At the start, the protagonist experiences first-hand the bombing of an abortion clinic and witnesses the fiery death of a clinic employee. This experience gives our lead character a dose of PTSD, changing the direction of his life.

Because of a troubled economy, Brendan, a once successful electrical engineer, is laid off. To make ends meet or even survive, he becomes an Uber driver in the city of LA. Kennedy has certainly done his research for this novel because he describes the freeways and surface streets of the town perfectly. (I know this, having lived in LA for a decade)

Our story begins with many descriptions of Brendan's various fares: a smorgasbord of bad-tempered characters, all in a hurry and emotionally lashing out at the driver. A friend of mine used to call this lashing out “kicking the dog.” Meaning the man of the house comes home after a bad day, and the first thing he does is kick the family dog. The dog is an innocent bystander, but he takes it out on the dog because he can't stand up to his boss. Another term for this is projection. As an Uber driver, Brendan must keep his mouth shut and take the abuse because every passenger grades his service. His job depends on a good score.

One morning he picks up an attractive middle-aged woman who turns out to be a retired professor of the French language. Elsie is a volunteer aid at the various abortion clinics across the city. Her job is to give emotional support before and after the procedure. Brendan finds this classy lady very kind. She orders another lift from him in the afternoon. Here, he sees a man on a motorcycle, wearing a black helmet, throw something into the clinic's foyer, a bomb that detonates twice, causing one death and several injured employees.

Brendan and Elsie have a connection, and he continues to Uber Elsie to her jobs around town. It's here the story picks up steam.

Brendan was raised Catholic, and he ended up marrying a woman who, from all appearances, looked to be a perfect fit. The problem is Brendan was never in-love and never did what he wanted to do in his life, but what his father and society expected. After losing their first child to SIDS, their relationship dwindles, and the wife turns brutal to religion. She became a militant-Christian activist protesting in front of abortion clinics and was once arrested. Although a catholic, Brendan sides more with the pro-choice side of the debate.

The novel heats up when Brendan and Elsie arrive in a clinic surrounded by violent protesters. In the crowd is his wife's best friend, who jumps on his car, breaking the windshield. As usual for Kennedy, the story has a few twists and climaxes along the way.

The novel examines both sides of the debate, addressing Roe vs. Wade in the characters' dialogue. Not only is abortion addressed, but theology in general and one's role to one's self, society, and our place in the universe. If the reader has any concerns about these issues and questions, Kennedy's Afraid of the Light would be a good investment of your time.