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When Michael was in college, he was invited to a mysterious place called Egypt, the majestic home of his friend, Adam Hanbury. There, he met Adam’s eccentric family—his outgoing father, his wealthy stepmother, and his mother, who was perfectly comfortable with her arrangement as a frequent guest at her ex-husband’s home. Now, years later, Michael still holds on to a vivid memory of his time at Egypt, and he often thinks about his friendship with Adam, who still lives nearby, though they’ve grown apart over the years.
When the balcony on Michael’s home collapses right behind him, he decides that it’s time to reconnect with his old friend. Over the phone, Adam tells Michael that he could use some help on his father’s farm, since the farm’s ewes are about to give birth, and Adam’s father is in the hospital. So Michael packs up his three-year-old son, Hamish, and says good-bye to his wife, Rebecca—who’s quite happy to see the two of them go.
On Michael’s return to Egypt, however, he finds that things aren’t quite as he remembers them. Adam’s stepmother, Vivian, spouts out complaints while cooking them barely-edible meals in her dark kitchen. Adam’s mother, Audrey, complains that her allowance has been cut off. Strange, bitter siblings come and go through the house, which seems to have been taken over by the family’s uncontrollable hounds. And Adam’s father, Paul, complains that no one’s been to visit him in the hospital. As if that weren’t enough, Adam also confides in Michael that he’s seen his father’s books, and the farm’s running at a huge loss.
During his visit, Michael gains new perspective on the things he’d always held as true. Not only does he see Adam’s family in a new light, but he also sees his marriage, his wife, and himself differently, too.
In the Fold is a darkly comedic novel by Whitbread Award winner Cusk. It’s definitely not cheery chick-lit, though each of the characters is amusing in his or her own quirky way. It took me a while to get into the slow-moving, reflective story—and, to be honest, I never could get fully into it. While many of the characters are intriguing, the story itself had the same dark, drab feeling of the Hanbury family’s old home. And although I found the book well-written and thoughtful, it was just a bit too dreary for my taste.
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