This is one of the best books I ever read in my life. I read the Sportswriter and although the writing was exceptional and story engrossing, disliked Frank Bascombe for his shallow detachment. In this novel he is so much more real as he attempts to communicate his troubled son. The setting, in Cooperstown and Oneonta is very familiar to me and dead one accurate. His attempt to relate to his son made me cry. In the midst of an unbelievable tragedy, someone calls him by name, and takes care of him...comforting, caring, for him. This Chirst- figure is his long lost Jewish step brother, Irv, who imparts wisdom of continuity, which finally impels Frank out of his Existence period back into real life. ( )

This book picks up five or so years after the conclusion of [Sportswriter]. Frank Bascombe, now divorced, but still hankering after his ex-wife Ann, who has moved on and remarried, is no longer a sportswriter but a realtor in Haddam, New Jersey, living in the home previously owned by Ann. His now 15 year old son is having emotional problems and Frank has decided some quality father and son time is called for. He picks his son Paul up, to take him on a road trip, stopping at various Halls of Fame.
It is written in a similar style to the previous book, in that we have Frank ruminating on life in general and his in particular. I still struggle to like Frank and couldn't understand why he would choose Sports Halls of Fame to spend quality time with his son, when his son appears to have little or no sporting inclination. I, also, struggled to relate to the dialogue, it's verbosity. Do people or did people in the 1980's America talk like that. I struggled to follow these threads of conversation. I very much suspect, that the views expressed, provided a platform for the author's own voice, but for me they bogged the story down.
As in the previous book, the pace does pick up eventually and keeps you reading and I suspect I will get around to the next in the series...eventually. An interesting choice for the Pulitzer prize... ( )

Forse un po' più slegato negli episodi rispetto al precedente Sportswriter, è comunque tenuto insieme dalle stesse spassionate osservazioni sulla natura umana, che rendono il cammino di Frank, fra sincronicità e continuità, estremamente condivisibile. ( )

Han pasado cinco años y reencontramos a Frank Bascombe en el verano de 1988. Sigue viviendo en Haddam, Nueva Jersey, pero ya no ejerce de periodista deportivo; ahora se dedica al negocio inmobiliario y, tras el divorcio, mantiene una relación sentimental con otra mujer, Sally. Mientras busca una casa para unos insoportables clientes, Frank aguarda ilusionado la llegada del fin de semana del 4 de julio, Día de la Independencia, que va a pasar en compañía de Paul, su conflictivo hijo adolescente.

I'm a fan of 'dirty realism' style--Wikipedia's genre for Ford's writing. I read Canada, then The Sportswriter and at 62% of Independence Day I decided to put it down. Unexpectedly, our local bookshop had a conversation with the author just as I journeyed on my jag of his works. Despite the fact that I saw this as some sort of sign, after the event, which taught me useful things about writing, I lost all steam for reading this prize-winning book (granted, I didn't have a ton to start with). Frank Bascombe does not appeal to me, ok, that isn't a showstopper; with all the layers of wonderful word-wizarding, why didn't want to I want to hear the rest of the story? ( )