Aubrey McKee

Finished June 23

Aubrey McKee by Alex Pugsley

This novel is set in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the city itself is almost a character here. The title character is the narrator of the novel, and he is looking back on his youth, growing up in Halifax from childhood until his early twenties. 

Aubrey is the only son in a large family of daughters. His father is a lawyer and his mother is a feminist. His growing up years are in the 1970s and 1980s, and he covers his place in his family, the dynamics of his parents' marriage, and some extended family members.

He also talks about his life outside the house, and the various groups of friends that he hangs out with at different periods. This includes his time playing competitive tennis, his experiments with drugs, and a band that he was part of. We also see glimpses of a few friends, both male and female, but one that plays a larger role here is Cyrus Mair, the last generation of a venerable Halifax family, a boy who is smart, yet a misfit. 

In some ways this book reminds me of A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Updike with the dynamic between the two boys. 

This book is a character-focused novel and one it is easy to lose yourself in.