Gabriel's Gift
Hanif Kureishi's newest novel, Gabriel's Gift, is his best novel since The Black Album. It's a funny, touching and earthy tale of a precocious 15-year-old boy, Gabriel, who uses his imagination and smarts to bring meaning back to his parents (Rex and Christine) who have split up. Rex is a failed musician five pounds from living on the street, and Christine, toiling as a waitress, is disappointed with her life and impending middle age.
Gabriel is also a little screwed up by all that has happened. Already a survivor of drug use and loveless teen sex, he's thrown for a jolt when dad is booted from the house by mom. A talent he's acquired in art allows him to escape from his troubles. Also, Gabriel talks with Archie, his twin brother who died more than a decade ago. Seemingly magical scenes where Gabriel's paintings come alive and conversations with Archie may or may not be real. These are scenes where Kureishi shines as a writer. Also, Kureishi's ability to poke fun at everyday life and find humor in pathos is a consistent strength in the novel.
Scenes where the street smart Gabriel easily manipulates a clumpish Easter European au pair (Hannah) who's assigned to guard him are very humorous. Also, in a funny yet sad scene, Rex's already diminishing ego is while, on a viait to a super successful colleague, flattened, when a crowd of journalist and hanger-ons, look him over and announce he's nobody. I also like a subplot where Gabriel plans out a film he plans to produce. Kureishi is skilled at taking time away from a scene to talk about the past, and then smoothly return to the action. The 178-page novel is fast paced and entertaining.
When Gabriel and dad Rex visit the successful rock star (Lester Jones), Jones gives Gabriel a painting. Both of his parents lust after it for economic reasons, but Gabriel, through ingenuous planning, keeps it away from both. The painting serves as a starting point where Gabriel manages to help turn his parents toward success. One strong scene is of Gabriel moe or less lifting dad Rex out of bed and to a guitar class he's supposed to teach. I haven't talked much about mom Christine, but Kureishi conveys her disappointment and self hatred in several scenes, most strongly in an extended affair where she allows herself to be used sexually by loutish but moneyed men. In a powerful scene, Gabriel paints a picture depicting his drunken mom being leered at by these creeps.
Fans of Kureishi's earlier novels will enjoy reading references to Deedee Osgood of The Black Album, and Buddha of Suburbia characters Karim Amir and Charlie Hero are minor characters who are allowed dialogue by Kureishi. However, they are just window dressing. This is a tale about a family renewing itself, reclaiming dignity and starting over. One final note: Even though Rex and Christine reunite, they carry their personalities and characteristics with them.