Wellness: A Novel

Wellness by Nathan HillWellness is a well-written, engaging, and thought-provoking novel. The New York Times describes Wellness as "a unique blend of satire and realism." There are numerous story arcs. While some are undeniably satirical, others focus on the complexities of modern life, tackling the growth of technology and a wide array of cultural challenges with a realistic lens.In the early 1990s, one protagonist, Jack Baker, leaves his family where he grew up in Kansas, rejects life on the prairie, and moves to Chicago to pursue a life as a photographer and artist. After spying on Elizabeth through her apartment window in a manner that would lead to charges of voyeurism today, he meets Elizabeth Augustine, the other protagonist. Elizabeth also rejected her family, a wealthy one from Connecticut. They fall in love immediately, then marry and eventually have a child.Jack and Elizabeth's child, Toby, has atypical social behaviors, and they disagree on the best way to integrate him into society. Childrearing is difficult, and their decision to build a forever home outside the city leads to several unanticipated setbacks. They soon realize they have grown apart and may not continue to enjoy the status of soulmates. As they experience issues in relationship status a decade after meeting, the novel delves into their back stories and how their families and experiences affected their personalities and life decisions.The novel only sometimes progresses linearly, but we continually learn more about Jack and Elizabeth, including their formative years, moral compasses, and careers. Elizabeth works at a company called Wellness, whose name plays into the book's title and predominant theme. When the story focuses on Elizabeth's career, the reader cannot help but consider what wellness means in the 21st century. The Wellness company provides placebo studies for corporations and organizations. Elizabeth's role in the company evolves to include more power but devolves when some of the company's studies become less ethical. Jack's photography and art inclinations as a youngster have led to his becoming an adjunct faculty member at a college. He is most comfortable with hands-on artwork and less comfortable promoting himself on social media, which is an HR concern at the college.Through the events of Jack and Elizabeth's upbringing, marriage, family life, careers, and life decisions, Nathan Hill creates scenarios that force us to think about myriad societal themes. These include but are not limited to the following:· Acceptance of one's children's dreams· Expectations of marital fidelity and fragility of marriages· Characteristics of people in upscale, urban, and other neighborhoods· Value of affordable housing· Implications of rallying for environmental concerns· The tenuous nature of friendships· Competence of builders and landowners· Effects of social media on different segments of the population, including viral social media rants· Dualities of wealth and poverty, class distinctions, dishonest accumulation of money· The omnipresence of family secrets· Placebos, fake medicine, scam doctors, and con artists posing as health professionals· Decisions about what is valuable in life· Lessons from unexpected places

Hill’s magnum opus is an ambitious endeavor. It’s an exhaustive, deep-dive into modern marriage and American culture. Jack and Elizabeth meet in college in Chicago in the early 1990’s. They fall quickly and wildly in love, certain that their bond is fated and unique. Both are fleeing traumatic and stifling family environments, eager to carve out their own identities. Twenty years later, their union is on shaky ground, and both are grappling with the many stresses and strains of a long term marriage. Each is struggling with their own issues, surprised that they’re no longer on the same page. Their once-easy compatibility is now stilted. Jack is bewildered. Elizabeth feels bored and smothered. They are at a crossroads in their relationship, and are also parenting their young son, Toby. Hill examines the marriage in intricate detail. The 600-plus page book allows the reader to truly get to know the characters and their complicated backstories. The results are often engrossing, frustrating, luminous, thoughtful, tedious and depressing. Amidst the crumbling marriage excavation, Hill also skewers American society and all that entails, offering up sharp, sometimes funny, and acerbic commentary on physical fitness, wellness, toxic positivity, tenure, work, success, sexual exploration, parenting, social media and changing relationship dynamics.Hill writes well and though this is the first of his books that I’ve read, it’s apparent that he wanted to take the reader on an expansive, encompassing journey into the lives of these earnest and troubled characters. Because of the scope and heft of the book, it wasn’t one that I could read without intermittent breaks. I picked it up frequently and would then set it aside occasionally, not because it wasn’t interesting, but because the material was often dense and involved. It’s not a light read, and will require an investment of time. It’s a book to ponder. The last portion of the book was the most satisfying to me. The reader finally discovers Jack and Elizabeth’s motivations, that run like electric currents beneath their carefully curated exteriors. The sudden revelations are subtle, stark and shocking. These particular scenes are so finely-drawn, steeped in melancholy and illuminating clarity. The book’s redemptive conclusion ties the story together in a full-circle moment that is masterfully done.

Wellness is by far the most incredible book I’ve read in a long time! Nathan Hill weaves contemporary topics so cleverly into the lives of the two main characters. I enjoyed learning about topics such as algorithms and placebos. A wonderful book- I highly recommend it!

I never imagined when starting this epic 660 page novel that I’d last the distance, but every page turned demanded the turning of the next and I arrive at the end, sad to be leaving and in awe of this extraordinary writer.

Nathan Hill has the ability to write superb humorous and tragic prose that is both entertaining and intellectually stimulating - sometimes in the same sentence ! The story is compelling and exciting whilst exploring various rabbit holes seamlessly incorporated. Looking at the bibliography it is easy to see why Nathan is so foot sure about so many technicalities. He is well read and hugely articulate. This and The Nix are both masterpieces and book clubs and advanced level curricula would be well advised to visit these works as there are abundant ideas to mull over and discuss. Plus of course the sheer entertainment value of these very readable gems.

Demasiados intentos por parecer moderno, junto con una excesiva longitud de la novela, me hicieron dejarlo a la mitad.

Ich habe für das Buch lange gebraucht in dem Sinne, dass ich es erstmal weggelegt hatte, weil ich in der Phase aber auch nicht viel Zeit hatte. Insgesamt ist es ein sehr gutes interessantes Buch über ein Pärchen über verschiedene Lebensphasen hinweg. Jedoch keine typische Romantik Geschichte, sondern deren Hintergründe, aufwachsen usw und wie sich die beziehungsdynamik über die Jahre hinweg sowie durch externe und interne Einflüsse ändert. Sehr spannend. Dazu auch Einblicke in das jeweilige Berufsleben und andere interessante Themen Gebiete wie zb der Algorithmus von Facebook. Sehr empfehlenswert!