Family

Family is one of the three major themes in Steve Kluger's novel "My Most Excellent Year." Family appears in every part of the book, and appears in traditional and nontraditional ways, each being incredibly important to those characters involved.

Traditionally, family appears in blood relations. Alejandra's parents, enmeshed in diplomatic affairs, serve as stern role models, but are nevertheless eventually receptive to their daughter's dreams and desires. Indeed, they end up rigorously supporting her pursuit of those dreams and desires. Augie Hwong's parents, Craig and Lisa, serve as rocks on which he stands. They are very supportive of their son's desires to be a director and a choreographer. Even more, they are receptive and open to his homosexuality, and they support Augie's relationship with Andy, welcoming Andy into the family. T.C.'s mother, having died when he was six, nevertheless retains strong ties to his mother by...