In the NY Times I stumbled across a recommendation for older books for summer reading. Among the suggestions was a book by Jane Smiley containing two novellas. “Ordinary Love” was the first novella and it was OK. But what I am recommending is the second novella “Good Will”.

Weighing in at 101 pages, “Good Will” for me was a uniquely original story. Told in the first person by the father of the family of three, father and mother and son, we see a family that lives a counterculture life on a somewhat remote piece of land. Much of the narration gives us details about how this family survives without money. They do everything for themselves: raise farm animals, grow their own crops, and build their own buildings. But they stop short at home-schooling the boy Tom. He gets to take the bus although most of the time this auto-less family walks or skis to destinations such as town. Don’t be put off by the initial description of how the family accomplishes the day to day chores. You might think, “Oh, this is just too self-congratulating and dull.” Hang in there for some real surprises. Without giving anything away, the suspense centers around the son. How would your react if you were a shoolboy whose parents were so independently self-reliant ?