Be Near Me

by Andrew O'Hagan

Father David Anderton is an outsider. The Catholic priest from England has just started at a parish in Scotland, and things are already difficult for him. The tiny, insular town despises outsiders, particularly those from England. Struggling to fit in, he befriends some students from the local high school, and this is where the trouble begins. . .

Lisa and Mark are not great students. Additionally, they are not great citizens. They drink, they do drugs, they steal, they vandalize--why on earth would David be involved with them?

Loneliness. David is very, very lonely. In a weak moment, he acts in an inappropriate way with Mark, and, of course, trouble ensues. It is only after he is accused of improper behavior that we learn David's story. It is a story of love, loss, and loneliness.

A colleague recommended this novel, and it really sounded good from her description. Alas! This novel is too slow for me. The protagonist is unlikable and frustrating, and I never felt invested in any aspect of the novel.

2/1/09