The Condition Book

The Condition which the title alludes to is Turner's syndrome; a genetic malformation where half of the second X chromosome is not formed, thus preventing puberty and certain psychosocial changes to take place, rendering a sufferer to present always as a prepubescent teenager. But the novel The Condition is less about the syndrome and more about that very basic condition; the human condition. It's about a family of five; each struggling to understand life and the need to be loved in the aftermath of divorce and about children struggling to cement their own lives in adulthood.

The McKotch's are Frank - workaholic scientist who likes the ladies and sex, Paulette - the very cloying New England wife, the son Billy is gay but hasn't come out to the family, Scott is a pothead teacher who fails at most things he bothers to try and Gwen is an anthropologist and suffers from Turner's syndrome. Frank and Paulette divorce, for a multitude of reasons, twelve months after they discover fourteen year old Gwen has Turner's and the family is pulled apart by both instances. Post-divorce, Frank absents himself and Paulette turns her focus rather too heavily onto the children. The story moves in a circuitous fashion 1976 to 1997, back and forwards through the family's lives and their reactions to Gwen's diagnosis. Not surprisingly, all three children hide their adult lives from both parents.

"It was a lesson most people learned much earlier; that even friendship could have an undisclosed shelf life. That loyalty and affection, so consuming and powerful, could dissipate like fog."

Each character is given depth with Haigh's frank and articulate manner; you understand each of the McKotch family. With wonderful perception and style, Haigh tells a believable, beautifully honest and intelligent story. University of Iowa's Writers Workshop authors rarely fail to please and Jennifer Haigh does the university proud. A good solid 4★ from me.