Oddly, the book isn't as troubling as I expected, for the complexity and seriousness of the subject of a son dying of ALS. There is humor, and clever conversations. Frank Bascombe, and his son Paul, are compelling characters. Having just lost my brother to ALS, my heart went out to both of them. ( )

Ford deftly portrays the randomness of being human and how we muddle through. Frank and his son Paul find themselves in uncharted territory and Ford shows how even profound life changes don't make us other than who we are. They each rise to the occasion, so to speak, but are still at heart flawed human beings, like all of us, trying to make the best of a rotten situation. ( )

A story that will ring true for many who have been care givers: tragic, sweet, heartwarming, funny and sad. Well done. ( )

This is my 9th Richard Ford novel. I see him in the same light as John Updike and Phillip Roth. They all wrote about white males and how they deal with the world. Be Mine is Ford's 5th and presumably last novel about Frank Bascombe. This. was a tough book because it deals with 74 year old Bascombe's 47 year old son Paul who is dying from ALS. Frank is his caretaker and their relationship is caustic at best, but Ford's writing is so good that it makes this. subject matter tolerable. As with all the Bascombe novels, this one is entirely in the 1st person of Frank and his take on so many different subjects. For me this was a worthwhile read of one of my favorite authors. If you have never read Ford then I suggest you start with the first Bascombe novel "The Sprortswriter". If you like it then you are in for a great treat in reading the other 4 novels . As with Updike with the Rabbit books and Roth with Nathan Zuckerman you get great writing and the inner working of. the white male angst in the late 20th and early 21st centuries These characters are a dying breed and newer writers both male and female deal with more expansive subjects and characters that reflect the multi-cultural world we live in. ( )

Be Mine by Richard Ford is a highly recommended literary novel and the fifth one featuring Frank Bascombe.

Frank, 74, is dealing with his own aging when he finds himself becoming the caretaker for his son Paul, 47, who has been diagnosed with ALS. They start their trip in freezing Rochester, Minnesota, where Paul is part of a study at the Mayo Clinic. The two decide to take a field trip for Valentines Day and travel in the winter through MN and SD to Rapid City to see Mount Rushmore. The two are both facing their own mortality while trying to create the happiness they can with what they have.

While the prose can soar and showcases the intelligence and insight that Ford is known for, this can also be a depressing novel. Certainly there are entertaining and funny parts, but the over all tone is melancholy. The narrative is told through Frank's point-of-view and he is a contemplative man, reflecting on his life, mortality, thoughts about happiness and the events transpiring around him. He remains a totally unique character in literature.

The Frank Bascombe novels are all centered around traveling during a holiday. For those who may want to read all of them The Sportswriter happens around Easter, Independence Day occurs around the 4th of July, The Lay of the Land is set during Thanksgiving, and Let Me Be Frank With You transpires during Christmas, and Be Mine takes place around Valentine’s Day.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/06/be-mine.html ( )