THE NEW PROSPERITY MUSEUM

Averett’s novel follows a boy from birth to adulthood and chronicles his heart-rending journey of self-discovery, blending elements of magical realism, Native American mythology, and nostalgic fiction.

Set largely in the Pacific Northwest, and particularly the inland farm country of Washington state, the story begins in 1950 with the birth of Henry James George. From an early age, Henry’s life is filled with wonder and tragedy. He has an unusual, supernatural power: Whenever he reads classic novels out loud, he miraculously heals people of dread afflictions. Mrs. Obregon, a local Chehalis curandera, or healer, believes that his abilities are part of his destiny to do great things. However, his power hasn’t helped him to avoid emotional pain and loneliness throughout his life. As he works, and lives, in a museum dedicated to the glorious prosperity of post–World War II America, Henry eventually realizes that his healing powers—and the fact that he’s part of a generation called “the blessed children of the future”—don’t mean all that much without love, connection, and hope. Averett’s characterization of Henry is a clear strength of the novel; the gifted man’s naïveté and purity of spirit make his quest an emotionally powerful experience. The author complements this with a tone that mirrors the era’s sense of awe, as in this passage, in which the museum’s curator talks about the Waste-Away garbage disposal unit: “You connect this under your sink and no longer have to contend with messy wet garbage. Turn the switch, and this little wonder chews it up and carries it away….I just love Westinghouse.” Readers may not have a firm idea of where the serpentine narrative is headed for much of the novel—characters make appearances and then aren’t heard about again for numerous chapters—but that may very well be the point. The “River o’ Life,” as Henry’s grandfather puts it,is unpredictable, after all, and no one knows just what the future holds.

An offbeat and sometimes-meandering work that, like the titular museum, memorializes a time of hope with grace and insight.