Finished: Tinkers (Harding) Rather intense Pulitzer Prize winner about an old man who is dying, and while lying on the hospital bed set up in the middle of the living room, has hallucinations about the house falling down around him, and reminisces back on his life, to his childhood, and his father. George Washington Crosby is dying. He's beloved, and surrounded by his wife, his children, and his grandchildren as he lies in the living room going in and out of consciousness in his last days of life. He's an antique clock repairman by trade, a tinker, and his thoughts drift to the intricate workings of clocks and time pieces. Someone is always there with him, but he's pretty unaware of them except for a few lucid moments. The book has very little dialogue, and quite a bit of stream of conscious thinking. George imagines the house coming down on him bit by bit, and then drifts into memories of his childhood. He was the oldest of four children, and his parents counted on him to do all the chores. His father, Howard Aaron Crosby, was also a tinker, but he put his skills to use by driving a wagon full of drawers around rural Maine, selling necessities to his rural customers. He was away from home alot, but usually made it home for dinner. He also suffered from severe epileptic fits. His wife was a rather unloving, no-nonsense kind of woman, but she always shielded the kids from their father's epileptic fits....but years of taking care of Howard finally took their toll on her. One day, when George witnesses an episode, she is at her wits end and actually talks to a doctor about having her husband committed to the "insane" hospital. When Howard sees the brochure on the dresser, he leaves to drive his cart that morning and never returns! He leaves his family and heads to Pennsylvania where he changes his name, marries another woman, and lives as a grocery store clerk for the next twenty-five years. His new wife actually takes him to a medical doctor who prescribes medications that help Howard immensely. There are times that the book goes into Howard's point of view, so then we learn about his own childhood. His father was a preacher, a much loved preacher, who loved his son, but rarely spent time with him as he was always up in his study creating his sermons. When Howard is a young teen HIS father begins to deteriorate, showing signs of what I assume was probably Alzheimer's or dementia. Sadly, Howard's mother has his father sent someplace with four men in black suits one day, as Howard witnesses through the window. He goes to try and find his father, nearly succumbing to hypothermia, but is taken home by some local hunters. It is also around this same time that Howard has his first epileptic seizure. So, all three of the men have very sad stories. George actually has a very happy marriage, lovely children, and a long life. It's just sad for him because he had a tough childhood which is prevalent in his mind as he dies. We flash back to Howard again, and when, after 25 years of marriage, his second wife must travel at Christmas to take care of her mother, Howard borrows a car and drives to George's house. It seems he had kept up with all his children. He leaves the car running, knocks on the door, says hi to George, meets his grandchildren. George is stunned, but happy, and invites his long lost father in for Christmas dinner, but Howard says, no thanks. He just wanted to say hi. This becomes the very last memory that George has as he leaves this earth. As I said, this was an intense one. Many emotions if you've had parents deteriorate before your eyes or pass away not really understanding what's going on. I had no idea this book would be so depressing. I'm on the lookout now for a more light-hearted book!