Richard Kramer's These Things Happen

Thirty-eight years ago, in October 1974, when Richard Kramer was still at Yale, he published a story in The New Yorker. Today is the release of his first novel. Long wait. You might think it prophetic that his story was called "Late Bloomers" -- or self-justifying that his novel is called These Things Happen [Kindle] -- but no, his talent flowered early. As a writer or producer, or both, on thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, Tales of the City, and Queer as Folk, among other projects, he earned five Emmy nominations. Those are some of the more literary tv shows of the past three decades and his novel has already been called "smart, funny, and insightful" by the Seattle Post Intelligencer. Critic Nancy Fontaine explains,

"Wesley and his oldest and closest friend Theo are growing up and attending private school in the city. Their days are filled with college coaches (you need an edge to get into Brown), soccer practice, homework, and hormones. Wesley is currently living with his father, a well-known and respected gay activist, and his father's boyfriend George, a former theater actor and co-owner of the restaurant above which they live. ("I'm not a very queenie queen," declares George.)

"Tenth grade appears to be going swimmingly, and Theo has just won the race for class president. Theo surprises everyone, including himself, when he announces, at the end of his acceptance speech, that he is gay and sets the true motion of the novel rolling. As Wesley tries to deal with this new reality and figure out how to have a relationship with important and unavailable father, everyone else in his life has to evaluate what Theo's revelation means. When an act of violence turns up the emotional volume, the results are often not pretty, even for these educated, well-meaning people.

"Although the first pages might give the impression of a light story and a quick read, These Things Happen is neither. We experience the action from the point of view of each main character in their distinctive and often charming voices as they stumble their way through a difficult situation and find their way back towards each other."

These Things Happen is one of my most anticipated books of the fall. If you enlarge the jacket image you'll see praise from Michael Cunningham and Julia Glass.

Comments

[Eptrail]

Thank you for reminding me of Kramer's book and thank you for your website. I have been visiting Band of Thebes for years now. Today is the first day I left a comment. I'm that grateful for the Kramer reminder. I just finished Peter Heller's Dog Stars on my most loved gadget, the Kindle, two nights ago. I could use some of Kramer's wit, subtle humor, and Insight into queer culture after Heller's post apocalyptic novel.

I also love the pictures you occasionally post of Alaska, Canadan, Montana and Wyoming! Please keep those coming mate.

[Foster Corbin]

Thank you for making me aware of this fine novel. I might not have run across it if I had not read your post.

Keep up the good work.

Foster Corbin