#226 Thawing Out- T.C. Boyle
Marty is 24 and in the beginnings of a serious relationship
with Naina. As it gets more serious, he gets more cold on the subject. He takes
a solo vacation that turns out to be a five month long weekend, losing his job,
and his girlfriend in the process. Afraid of adulthood and a long term
commitment, Marty struggles with adulthood.
The setting and theme is cold water. Naina’s family is
Ukrainian and they have an affinity for cold water. Their Polar Bear Club takes
a ceremonial frigid dip into the Hudson each winter solstice to reaffirm their
lives and virility. Marty needs to take the plunge to rid himself of his
selfish adolescent ways.
The plunge has to be voluntary. The accidental fall into
freezing water he took in Canada was due to miscommunication, and thus ended in
disaster. The real plunge must be embraced, and done on faith; that one will be
as warm as bath water.
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