The Accidental Existence

This book should have been titled "The Accidental Existence".

“Bueller…Bueller.” We all know that boring professor from the totally awesome movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” The movie inspired its viewers to seize each and every day with laughter and spontaneity. The professor, however, was completely the opposite and could probably kill someone slowly with his dull voice and vacant face. Unfortunately the hero (if I can call him that) of The Accidental Tourist, Macon Leary, is, in my vision of him, a younger, unexpectedly handsome version of that very professor. His face is without expression, his voice is dreary and his very body is unfamiliar with any joyful life experiences.

Macon Leary is a sad man when we meet him in this story. His wife just asked for a divorce around the two year marking of his 10 year old son’s murder. He is numb and rightfully so. In the beginning of the story I did feel very sorry for him because of everything he’s been through. As the story continued Macon’s OCD behaviors surfaced and we were introduced to his familiar and neurotic siblings. They could argue for 10 minutes about whether or not to close a window and who, if anyone should do the closing depending on proximity, physical strength, pleasant temperature comfort levels and age. It was ridicules, but slightly entertaining.

At the end, Macon finally realized he had lived all his life without making any decisions and everything that came into or left his life was all by chance. I read a quote somewhere that said, “the brain likes decisions”. Well if that’ true then Macon’s brain must have been as mad as hell. The book ends with Macon realizing how his life has unfolded so far and in order to change anything he had to figure out what he REALLY wanted and what to do to get it. I was actually proud of him at the very end. As far as inspiration books about “Seizing the Day!” go there are better ones out there. I wouldn’t waste my time reading this one.