Crossroads

Crossroads is set in the early 1970s and tells the story of the Hildebrandt family. Russ, an associate protestant pastor, and his wife Marion have four children, Clem, Becky, Perry and Judson. Each of the family members, Judson excepted, offers their own perspective of life within this family. 

Crossroads is also the name of a cultish youth outreach program at the church where Russ is a pastor. Russ is initially a leader of the group but engages in an unhealthy struggle for control with a younger pastor named Rick Ambrose. Rick encourages a '70s touchy-feely group dynamic that the young people respond to. The rivalry between the two men culminates in Russ being ousted as leader and he is cut to the quick. Over the course of the story Russ develops a sexual attraction for a recently widowed parishioner that he schemes to push forward. 

Marion is a supportive wife to Russ. She assists him with his church duties and even writes his sermons. She is a concerned mother but is also depressed and feels that life is passing her by. She struggles with her weight and is hurt by her husband's waning interest in her and his all too obvious attraction to a more vivacious, prettier woman. Her difficult family history and past mental health issues are revealed to us over time.

Clem, the oldest son, goes away to university and enters into an intense relationship with a fellow student. He suddenly decides to quit school, dump his girlfriend and enlist in the military in the waning days of the Vietnam War. He knows this decisions will not sit well with his parents and will offend his father's deep commitment to pacifism.

Becky is a an attractive, popular girl who does all the right things, including sharing with her siblings a substantial inheritance from her aunt which had been earmarked for a trip to Europe for her and also for tuition at a good college. When she falls for a popular local musician she begins to question the safe trajectory of her life. 

Perry is a super intelligent boy but goes from smoking marijuana to selling it before moving on to hard drug use and mental illness. His behaviour and his illness eventually threaten his family with financial ruin.

The youngest son, Judson, is loved by all, especially Perry. He is confused by the changing family dynamic that is evolving around him.

The central dilemma is that every one of the Hildebrandts wants to be good and do good but they also experience deep, gut-churning shame and guilt. At times it is painful to read although ultimately I felt that Russ got what he deserved.

Crossroads is an old fashioned novel, almost Updikian in language and in style,  that reads like it was written in the era in which it is set, an era during which I came of age. I am told it is the first of a trilogy and I look forward to reading the next two.