Dominick Birdsey (b. 1950)

The novel's angst-filled narrator, Dominick is a high school teacher turned house painter, who candidly describes himself as a son of a bitch. The novel describes his lifelong struggle to deal with his mother's clear preference for his identical twin, Thomas, and having to be his brother's keeper.

Dominick is born six minutes after his identical twin Thomas, on New Year's Day, 1 January, 1950. Illegitimate, they receive their mother's surname, Tempesta. Within years they are adopted by Ray Birdsey, an angry pipefitter at Electric Boat. Ray is tough on both boys, but focuses his rage particularly on Thomas, leaving Dominick to try to draw it off. As the novel opens, Dominick is cohabiting with Joy Hanks, having in 1986 been divorced from Dessa for less than a year after being together for 16 years. He still yearns for Dessa and blames his own temper for losing her. As his...