"The Holy Family" is a novel by Alan Michael Wilt, published in 2012 by Tucker Seven. It is noteworthy first and foremost because it really is an "atheist novel," and there just aren't a lot of those around. Having said that, the fact that it's an atheist novel doesn't say anything about whether it's worth reading. But rest assured, it is well worth reading. It's not a novel about atheism. It's about family, community, love, and loss. It's about grief and recovery. It's about real life from the perspective of a thoughtful and sensitive man who struggles with both religion and atheism.
At once introspective and community-focused, Martin Halsey is a failed actor turned talent agent. He doesn't stand out in a crowd, and when it comes right down to it, a great deal of his charm comes from his plainness. He is a good talent agent, a loyal friend, and tries to be the best husband and father he can be. He is "everyman."
The bulk of the novel alternates between the present -- a stretch of several weeks in November and December -- and recollections of the past, from Martin's year at an overly religious college in Georgia through the courtship of his wife to the birth of their first daughter. Ultimately, the timelines meet at a tragedy which threatens to sink Martin and his family into inconsolable grief. Martin is reliving his own timeline as he struggles to find solace and meaning in a time of great suffering and loss.
There are a lot of strengths in "The Holy Family." It is a very thoughtful story which taps into deep emotions. I felt both sympathy and empathy for Martin and his family, and recognized myself in him. I was absorbed and captivated by the frankness with which he reveals his innermost demons. It's one of those books that really is hard to put down.
While telling a deeply moving story of everyday humanity, "The Holy Family" also recounts the philosophical debates many of us have engaged in with ourselves and others. Even so, it seldom if ever feels preachy. We empathize when Martin has periods of profound introspection, and when he analyzes all the reasons he ought or ought not believe. We feel the relevance. It is not about being "right" so much as it is about making sense of what is happening now. How will life change because of belief or its rejection?
The book is not without flaws. There are a noticeable number of editing errors, some of which may break otherwise sublime moments. On a few occasions, I found myself absorbed in reading, only to unconsciously backtrack to reread a sentence. Upon discovering an error at the root of my disconcert, I had to make an effort to re-engage in the story. This is unfortunate, because the story itself really is powerful, and draws you in almost effortlessly. (I finished in only two sittings because I couldn't put it down.)
Wilt is a very good storyteller. He has taken a plot which could be summarized in two paragraphs and turned it into an emotional journey that immerses us in the passage of many years. The descriptions, internal monologues, and pace are wonderful. The dialog, however, is a bit weak in comparison. Some readers may find the interchanges a bit too precise and removed from the colloquial. Sometimes, they read more like carefully written than spontaneously spoken thoughts. Thankfully, this does not detract from the story. For me, it was simply a matter of recognizing why I felt a little distracted by the dialog, and from then on, it was not a concern. The bulk of the story is told through recollection and description, not conversation.
These two quibbles are the entirety of my criticism. My rating of 4 stars instead of 5 reflects that this is not a perfect book, but it is a near perfect story. With only a handful of characters and a "real time" passage of only a few weeks, it is a masterfully minimalist approach to achieving deep connections. I found myself weeping openly on several occasions, and they were genuine tears, not those reflexive tears we sometimes shed at the predictable ending of this year's iteration of last year's blockbuster romance flick. When Marty and his loved ones grieved, I grieved with them, and shared in the beautiful agony that is only possible when we have loved with our whole being.
Perhaps that is what "The Holy Family" is really about. It is about just how sublime life can be, even if we do not stand out in a crowd, and even if we are just so much self-aware stardust. It's about reality, just as it is, without cookie cutter endings or a deus ex machina to set everything right. From start to finish, it's about life's imperfections and successes and tragedies, and living a rich and full life with eyes wide open.
I have two final thoughts which also serve as a glowing recommendation. First, I'm genuinely sorry that I had to give "The Holy Family" 4 stars instead of 5. It's a top notch story, and one of the best novels I've read in years. Nevertheless, I would not have felt like I lived up to Martin Halsey's own standard of honesty and openness if I "sugar-coated" the review. The slight imperfections are... human... and in a way, they make the experience that much more profound. Second, I didn't like saying that this is an "atheist novel." It is, in the sense that atheism plays a prominent part in the story, but adding the label threatens to imply that atheists ought to read it because it's about atheism. That couldn't be farther from the truth. It is a great book, period, and you should read it, regardless of whether it matters to you that atheism is favorably portrayed.
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