Not nearly as gritty as his previous crime fiction and
his writing for HBO’s The Wire, George Pelecanos’ new novel,
The Way Home, is a surprisingly touching look at complex
father/son relationships. Using a few slightly worn tropes, Pelecanos
conveys the love, hurt, disappointment, and anger that go hand in hand
with familial relations.
Sent to a juvenile detention facility, 17-year-old Chris Flynn, the
son of a successful Washington, DC, business owner, is the only white
kid in lockup. Chris’ privileged background is highlighted when he
mentions to Ali, a fellow inmate, that his father is an avid reader:
“‘Your father,’ said Ali with a small smile. ‘Your living room. Books.
A library… How you end up in this piece?'” Shaking his head, Ali goes
on: “You don’t belong here, man.” But in many ways, Chris does belong
there—to show his strong father how tough he is, and to clear his
brain of youthful braggadocio. Years later, with a job installing
carpet for his father’s company, Chris is living clean until he comes
across a big ol’ bag of money during an install. It’s then that he must
choose his future—stick to the redemptive path he’s started down,
or stray.
Pelecanos has a deft hand with emotive details, which he uses to
good effect in The Way Home—but it’s missing the
bare-knuckled punch he’s readily capable of. It’s got all the heart of
his best novels, without his usual soul.