The End of October: A novel by Lawrence Wright

The End of October by Lawrence Wright is an expertly woven tale of loss, grief, and the strength of the human spirit. Set in late-autumn of 2020, the world is in the grip of a deadly pandemic, with the death toll rising and hospital wards filled to capacity. The story follows the family of Shep Greenman, a pastor who can no longer continue to put on a brave face when the numbers of burials he's been called to increase every day.

Shep's wife Levander, an ER nurse, is struggling to keep up with her work while also tending to her increasingly disheartened husband. Add to that the many challenges of parenting two vastly different teenage children, and the stage is set for a number of heartbreaking moments throughout the novel.

The story begins with Shep visiting the local grocery store, where he's shocked to see people disregarding rules and guidelines meant to protect them from the virus. He's further distressed to see a mask-less child among them, as if, like Shep's own children, they are too young to comprehend the danger of the current situation. From this opening, we're introduced to Shep's deep yearning for the old, safe world, a time in which his family and loved ones were healthy and unburdened.

It's in this emotional context that we begin to watch Shep's family unravel and the emotional investiture begin for the reader. As the story continues and the circumstances become ever more dire, with Shep's congregation collapsing from fear and fearmongering, and the death toll steadily rising, each family member is affected in their own way. Levander, despite her medical expertise, finds herself overwhelmed with helplessness as the death toll rises and she falters trying to save patients who she has known for years.

Tensions between Shep and his children mount, as each of them struggle to cope in the midst of death, sickness and the all-encompassing terror that had taken over the world. While Shep holds on to hope and faith, his children drift ever further away, their recklessness and defiance forcing Shep and Levander to face their own anxieties and fears.

The family's situation tumbles toward a head as the final days of October arrive and the infection rate continues to climb. The novel culminates in a powerful, gut-wrenching finale that places the Greensmoots, and readers, at the edge of what will be remembered as one of the darkest, most difficult moments in human history.

Ultimately, The End of October is a powerful and timely novel about the power of love, the fragility of life, and the strength that comes from faith. It highlights the disturbing yet remarkable reality of life in the midst of a global pandemic with emotional heft and honesty. And, above all, it reminds us that despite the darkness and tragedy that often accompany life, there is a light in the darkness that, if we seek it, can sustain us and guide us through even the darkest of times. This is a powerful and affecting novel, one that readers of any age or era will find themselves engaging with, relating to, and discovering strength from.