The Obituary Writer by Porter Shreve

Gordie Hatch has always dreamed of being a great journalist like his late father. Throughout his childhood, his mother regaled him with stories about his father's reporting on Kennedy's assassination. Gordie, 22, works as an obituary writer for the St. Louis Independent and yearns to move up in the newsroom. One day he takes a call from a woman named Alicia Whiting whose husband, Arthur, has died. Gordie feels she's sick with grief when Alicia insists her husband deserves a significant obit. He also is a bit intrigued by Alicia, especially when he meets her. The Obituary Writer is a story of Gordie's coming of age and the uncovering of many truths. I blogged about Shreve's latest book, When the White House Was Ours in September. I loved that book. This novel, however, is lacking the quirkiness and character development that make Shreve's books such enjoyable reads.