It’s difficult to describe Elizabeth McKenzie‘s new novel, The Portable Veblen, because it is so many different things all at once. It’s the story of the courtship of Veblen Amundsen-Hovda and Paul Vreeland. It’s an exploration of complicated family dynamics. It’s a philosophical contemplation of life in northern California through the lens of the writings of the other Veblen, first name Thorstein, who coined the term “conspicuous consumption” and after whom Veblen Amundsen-Hovda is named. It’s a biting satire of the military-industrial complex and the marketing of medical apparatus.
This is something Veblen’s parents have failed to provide. Her mother, Melanie, is a narcissistic hypochondriac. Her father, Rudgear, is a war veteran who suffers from PTSD, among other ailments, and barely recognizes her. Paul’s parents are hippies who concentrate most of their attention on their intellectually disabled older son. All together, they bring to mind the late essayist David Rakoff’s crack that there should be a support group called Adult Children of Parents.
By Elizabeth McKenzie (Penguin)
Readings Thu 3/3, 7 PM Book Stall 811 Elm Winnetka 847-446-8880thebookstall.com Free
Fri 3/4, 6:30 PM City Lit Books 2523 N. Kedzie 773-235-2523citylitbooks.com Free
