Jonathan Evison has a keen eye for observing the innermost workings of our society, and in Lawn Boy he introduces us to Mike Munoz, a young man a few years out of high-school, who is about to learn a whole lot about the world on his own.
Unsatisfied with his trajectory of menial work and recently fired from his last gig as a landscaper, Mike decides to shake his life up a bit and give chase to the good old American dream... after all, shouldn't every American be entitled to it?
Jonathan Evison Begins an American Odyssey
The search for happiness is the ultimate goal for all people I believe. What it is which brings one happiness is an entirely different question, but our whole lives are spent in search of personal fulfillment in one way or another. The United States of America is even carrying this philosophy in its description, colloquially known as the “land of opportunity” around the world, a place where happiness and prosperity ought to be within reach of all.
Needless to say, reality falls far behind this idealistic view of the country, but nevertheless it doesn't prevent people like Mike Munoz in Jonathan Evison's Lawn Boy from giving it a shot.
The story begins by introducing us to the afore-mentioned main character, a young man only a few years out of high-school. Unfortunately for him, his life has been far less than fulfilling in the state of Washington, having spent the last few years of his life working various menial jobs which brought him no closer to becoming happy.
Most recently, he got fired from his gig as a landscaper, and while it might seem like yet another obstacle in life, Mike discovers it may have actually been more of a blessing in disguise.
Feeling the time is right to shake things up in his life and give the old American dream the chance it deserves, Mike sets out on a personal odyssey in search of the secret to finding his place in the world. Meeting many new and fascinating people on his journey, Mike discovers more than he could ever imagine about himself, and tries time and time again to get a firm grip on the ladder of success.
Though nothing ever seems to come easily to him, his persistence is only bound to get rewarded one day... even if he may not find the coveted American dream, a place and a future in this world might be just enough for him to reach true happiness.
A Social Study
Lawn Boy is a book which delivers on numerous levels, and the first one I would like to discuss is its study of modern society from the perspective of a cultural minority. Jonathan Evison certainly has a profound understanding of the social dynamics in play in the USA, and he takes his time to examine them in great detail.
Most interestingly, he devotes a fair few pages to the examination of the current social classes, how they are distinguished from each other, and the great extent to which they influence the lives of regular people.
As you might imagine, we see Mike traverse the minefield of social classes more than anyone else in this book, and being part of a minority does put him at odds with cultural discrimination at times. Thankfully, I found these moments were all tackled with a great sense of awareness and intelligence by the author, never allowing them to devolve into outlandish or cartoonish proportions.
We witness through Mike the harsh reality many people such as himself have to deal with on a daily basis, and while the author can't explain the whole thing away, he does present some interesting meditations on the topic.
The American dream is also quite a prominent topic in this book, as you may have gathered from the number of times I have referenced it already. Though I won't deny it has probably been looked at from every conceivable angle by countless authors over the past few decades, Evison's outlook on it felt a bit new and different, in the sense it was more adapted to modern reality and realistic expectations.
Rather than being a birthright to become rich and prosperous, perhaps it ought to be looked at more as the opportunity to find one's place in the world, to be emotionally and spiritually fulfilled.
The Landscaper Comes of Age
While the story does bear a heavy layer of social observations and examinations, it still remains driven by the engrossing narrative of Mike's travels, bringing joy, sadness, pain and pleasure along the way.
However, before we even set out on the odyssey with him, the author ensures we become as well-acquainted with the man as humanly possible. We learn of his childhood, being raised on an Indian reservation by a single mom alongside a developmentally-disabled brother, and his incessant struggle to find a better life for the three of them.
By the time he actually starts out on his journey, we come to know him relatively intimately, to the point where we can often predict his way of thinking or his next action. In my opinion, this stands as a testament to the author's tremendous ability to write a solid and defined character who can carry the story.
We never do stop learning about Mike and his power of will, and throughout the course of the story he never stopped gaining more respect in my eyes, always finding a way to defy the odds and fulfill the goals he should have never come close to.
This novel does have a lot of heavy and introspective moments in it, but at the same time Mike's general attitude towards life brings a good dose of humour into the story as well. Never one to be down for the count or looking for the worst parts of his existence, Mike's entire attitude colours the world around him into something more joyful, hopeful and inspiring, even through the darkest of days.
He changes the lives of many people he comes across, and learns about the power of compassion carried by every human. Ultimately, the true path to the American dream might lay within us, rather than the world outside.
The Final Verdict
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison is an eye-opening and thought-provoking work of American fiction, one which doesn't pull any punches in its examination of social classes, discrimination and the pursuit of happiness. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories marked by a profound and personal odyssey, then I highly recommend you give this book a shot.
 | Jonathan EvisonPersonal siteJonathan Evison is an American author best-known for his novels All About Lulu, the Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, and This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!. He has also received a large number of honours and awards, including the
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