Review: Rich Man, Poor Man
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 5, 2012
The title of this review is derived from Irwin Shaw's 1969 novel (and was later made into a made-for-TV miniseries), and serves as one of the underlying motifs for Sandra Ross's book "You're Never Too Late." Living in a society where having the financial wherewithal to do whatever one chooses in life is viewed favorably by many; on the other hand, being poor and having to struggle is a subject best avoided altogether. This dichotomy (discussed behind closed doors by gossiping tongues and bitter revolutionary types) reverberates at all levels throughout the United States: it has expressed itself via politics, religion, and music; it has assumed the mantle of cliches such as "We are the 99%" and "class warfare"; and it has shown its collective face in the form of offshore bank accounts for rich individuals, a shrinking middle class, and a pervasive corporate culture of insouciant greed and indifference to the average American worker.The specter of wealth (or the lack thereof) has influenced the choices made by the heroine of Ross's tome, Christa. She is engaged to be married to the very handsome Barry Candler---who, not coincidentally, just happens to be an incredibly wealthy man. Christa's practical-minded father has approved of the match, as his only daughter would become quite financially well-off for the rest of her life.Or so it would seem.What has been bothering Christa for a very long time is revealed by Ross to the reader as that of a former love, Ethan Mallory. Long ago, Ethan and Christa had been lovers. Christa absolutely adored this man and was incredibly happy and content with him, despite the fact that he was very poor. Unsurprisingly, because of this socioeconomic factor, Ethan was considered by Christa's father to never be good enough for her. The pressure applied by her father to break the two of them up proved too much for Ethan to bear, and one day he simply disappeared, never to be seen again for a long time.Devastated, Christa did her best to move on, and eventually met Barry via social machinations engineered by (guess who?) her father. Despite eventually being betrothed to Barry---who in all fairness is a decent guy---she has never reconciled the long-dormant feelings she still has for her long-lost Ethan.There are people in this world who are, simply stated, unhappy and dissatisfied with themselves and their lives. It doesn't matter if they live in a tony suburb or a shabby apartment. Their internal locus of contentment, savagely out of kilter, causes them to rely upon external things---expensive trips and gifts; work promotions; extramarital affairs, etc.---in order to feel loved and accepted. Christa lacks the inner stability and focus necessary to feel complete and happy because the abrupt severing of all ties with Ethan has led to her constant sense of unease and isolation. Ross weaves a nice little social web of intrigue, miscommunication, and submerged passions that envelop all three major characters (Christa, Ethan, and Barry) to varying degrees."You're Never Too Late" is a good title for the story. Ross seems to imply to the reader that, regardless of the poor choices people can make in their lives, there is always room for reconciliation, no matter what may have transpired long ago. The story allows the characters to discover aspects about themselves that they had previously ignored and/or minimized, and provides a stage for being true and faithful to who they happen to be as individuals, regardless of what society and its standards may dictate. It is a triumph of the human spirit, and is a story that can inspire all people---rich or poor.