Character chooses extreme measures to battle stress in new Walden

By: Agatha Lutoborski

Posted: 1/31/07

There are two things that tend to stress people out: school and family. Either an upcoming test eliminates any possibility of sleep, or Spring Break dreams have been shattered by unruly parents. Anger sets in, followed shortly thereafter by resolute acceptance. At least that's how it is for most students.

"Walden," Michael T. Dolan's first novel, entertainingly explores how one student ignores the typical route of acceptance, and leads his own personal uprising against his university and family.

Though the novel is short, an easy 135 pages, it takes the reader through the highlights of the life of college freshman, Walden, after whom the book is named. From his birth he has been expected to follow the traditions of his wealthy, established family, especially when it comes time for him to attend college. He of course, attends the University, an institution which his ancestors helped to build. There he feels stifled, and as a result, neither attends class nor does work. Instead, he goes to extremes to release himself from his familial and scholarly chains.

The extremes of Walden's actions are surprising and difficult to relate to, but nevertheless, keep the pages turning in a desire to find out what happens next. The ending is a shocker, but most importantly, the author doesn't tie all the strings together neatly and leaves room for thought. Questions still lurk as page 135 rolls around, and re-reading of the last chapter is needed in order to extract the author's clues to get all the answers.

Some parts of the novel try too hard to depict the "typical" college experience at a small cost to the book's integrity. Sexual crudeness and humor are undoubtedly present on college campuses. However, the novel seems a bit hypersexual at times for being a realistic representation of a modern-day college atmosphere.

Despite this tendency toward the hypersexual depiction of college life, "Walden" is an enjoyable read. Its pages are filled with action as well as emotional reactions to stress from school and family issues, which most students can relate to. The real adventure is seeing what happens when someone snaps from it all, an issue fortunately not everyone has to worry about.

Q: What did your college education look like?

A: I went to Villanova, graduated in '99. I was an English major. I knew from day one of grade school that I wanted to write when I grew up. The closest thing they had to the major in college was English. That's what made sense to me, and that's what I enjoy doing.

Q: Did your own life inspire "Walden?"

A: Not particularly. Certainly some things influence the book that comes from the author's experience, but not directly.

Q: What gave you the idea for the book?

A: I had an idea, can't point to specific point in time. One day in the life of this student. I knew the beginning; I knew the end, and the rest of it just sort of wrote itself.

Q: Where can students buy the book?

You won't find it in a lot of bookstores, but any bookstore you could go and you request it, and they'll be able to order it for you. It's in all of their databases. Actually, the Syracuse Bookstore ordered two copies last week. You can also order it online through conversari.com.

Q: What would you like to tell the Syracuse community about "Walden?"

The book itself, I think appeals to the college kids. I think it's one of these books that's not just a story; it causes you to reflect about your own experience, your own decision. The story runs the whole gamut of emotions: humor to sadness, extreme depression, madness. Others have related it to "Catcher in the Rye," but for college kids in the 21st century. Also, readers can discuss the book online, download a book group reading guide, check out "Walden's iPod" and lots more.

You can check it out at www.conversari.com/walden.htm.