Introduction

John Dufresne's glorious new novel is a tragicomedy about love and death that highlights the absurdities of everyday life and in the same breath reveals heart-wrenching truths. The comedy is what makes the tragedy bearable, what prevents us, as readers, from finally turning away from the irreversibility of death and the disappointments of love. The narrator of Love Warps the Mind a Little, 36-year-old Lafayette Proulx, a struggling writer, has just wrecked his marriage of 14 years and moved in with his lover, Judi Dubey, who is not overjoyed to see him. Then, when Judi is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Laf finds himself in the role of caregiver, witnessing the stealthy approach of death and learning about the sacrifices and duties of love that offer a surprising amount of redemption. Dufresne's master storytelling and keen ability to mirror the torment and resiliency of life make his novel a joy to delve into and impossible to put down.

Editorial Review

Lafayette Proulx is affectionately called Laf by his friends, and with good reason. As the likeable narrator of John Dufresne's terrific new book Love Warps the Mind a Little, Laf has an eye for the comic elements that can be found in the everyday events of life, and an armchair philosopher's sense of detached bemusement. Laf quits his day job and decides to pursue his dream of writing fiction, a move precipitated by the breakup of his marriage and followed by a torrent of rejection slips. He moves in with his hesitant girlfriend Judi, and for a time, the story sets into a domestic story of befuddled affection and incidental affairs. Suddenly, Judi is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and from here on out, Love Warps the Mind a Little becomes a stunning love story, sweetly moving in its description of love amid tragic circumstances. Its honesty and insight are wonderful and the comic elements are never lost. The highly acclaimed author of Louisiana Power & Light has met the high expectations of his critics and readers alike in this wonderful novel.

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