You Remind Me of Me

Stars: 3/5
Author: Dan Chaon
Subjects: identity, psychology, city and town life, fate and fatalism, middle west, psychological fiction
ISBN: 0345441419
Copyright Year: 2004
Other Comments: Dan Chaon's You Remind Me of Me is about two half brothers.  The first one, Troy, is given up for adoption when his mother, Nora, is 15 years old.  The second one, Jonah, comes along approximately five years later and lives with Nora's son until she commits suicide.  Jonah finally finds Troy and tries open a connection between them based on familial ties.  However, Troy is more concerned about his predicament of potentially losing his child and being put on house arrest for selling drugs to pay attention to the lonely Jonah.  Jonah eventually becomes so desperate he does something drastic.  This story is beautifully written, but extremely depressing.  It truly is psychological fiction.  I felt nothing but pity for Jonah and Troy, wishing, hoping they would find ways to better lives.  Although the novel ends fairly happy, I was still left with a sense of grief.  This story wasn't my favorite thing I've read by Dan Chaon.  I actually had the privilege of meeting him at the college I attend and was excited to find out that he currently lives in Ohio.  He is hilarious in person and I actually preferred his short stories.  He also acknowledges that his occupation is a short story writer in the back of this book.