2008 Woodie Awards
Walden: not the same old pond
Toni Merriss
Issue date: 12/30/06 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
For many young adults, college is the first experience of truly being on one's own. It can be a confusing time full of doubts and a genuine need to find one's self.
Walden, the first novel from author Michael Dolan, follows one young man on his journey to establish his individuality. Walden Walden XVI has lived in the shadows of his family members for as long as he can remember. He isn't ever really allowed any escape upon entering college - he attends the same university that all the Waldens have attended for centuries before him.
If there was ever a story of a predetermined path with no thought of how the actual person would respond, Walden is it.
With ancestors dating back to the very first graduating class at the university and one of whom even wrote the schools' alma mater, there is a lot pressure put on Walden by both his family and the faculty to excel just as every other Walden has done before him.
Sometimes going to extremes just to try to break his family mold, Walden acts out and quite often makes a person wonder if he can tell the difference between real life and his dreams. From freeing the soon-to-be dissected lab pigeons to setting the university library on fire, Walden is headed down a one-way street with little hope of a very necessary U-turn.
The one bright light in his otherwise dark tunnel of a life is Brooke, who is more than a friend but not quite his girlfriend, around whom he feels most comfortable. Brooke represents everything that Walden could possibly see in his future.
Never being the type of person to see the glass half-full, Walden somehow finds a way to mess up every opportunity he is ever given in his life. Not only that, but he also resents the fact that he was even given a chance to mess it up.
Walden views his life as more of a curse than a blessing, and quite often he gives the impression that he truly has no aspirations other than to not be the typical Walden success story.
The drama all comes to a head when Walden takes a drastic step to set himself apart from his well-known and respected family, once again baffling his father who sees no problem with his high level of expectations for young Walden.
Walden has more twists and turns than a roller coaster, not to mention the multiple double-meanings spread throughout the novel. Readers will finish the book knowing that even though things can get rough, it could always be worse.
At least you are not Walden Walden XVI. Now that kid has it rough.
For more information on Walden or to order your own copy, visit www.conversari.com.
Walden, the first novel from author Michael Dolan, follows one young man on his journey to establish his individuality. Walden Walden XVI has lived in the shadows of his family members for as long as he can remember. He isn't ever really allowed any escape upon entering college - he attends the same university that all the Waldens have attended for centuries before him.
If there was ever a story of a predetermined path with no thought of how the actual person would respond, Walden is it.
With ancestors dating back to the very first graduating class at the university and one of whom even wrote the schools' alma mater, there is a lot pressure put on Walden by both his family and the faculty to excel just as every other Walden has done before him.
Sometimes going to extremes just to try to break his family mold, Walden acts out and quite often makes a person wonder if he can tell the difference between real life and his dreams. From freeing the soon-to-be dissected lab pigeons to setting the university library on fire, Walden is headed down a one-way street with little hope of a very necessary U-turn.
The one bright light in his otherwise dark tunnel of a life is Brooke, who is more than a friend but not quite his girlfriend, around whom he feels most comfortable. Brooke represents everything that Walden could possibly see in his future.
Never being the type of person to see the glass half-full, Walden somehow finds a way to mess up every opportunity he is ever given in his life. Not only that, but he also resents the fact that he was even given a chance to mess it up.
Walden views his life as more of a curse than a blessing, and quite often he gives the impression that he truly has no aspirations other than to not be the typical Walden success story.
The drama all comes to a head when Walden takes a drastic step to set himself apart from his well-known and respected family, once again baffling his father who sees no problem with his high level of expectations for young Walden.
Walden has more twists and turns than a roller coaster, not to mention the multiple double-meanings spread throughout the novel. Readers will finish the book knowing that even though things can get rough, it could always be worse.
At least you are not Walden Walden XVI. Now that kid has it rough.
For more information on Walden or to order your own copy, visit www.conversari.com.
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Walden
posted 4/07/07 @ 12:35 PM CST
I invite you to read more about WALDEN at www.conversari.com, where you can download a book group reading guide, read a free chapter, check out Walden's iPod, discuss the book, and much more. (Continued…)
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