LITERATURE CIRCLE (1st Novel)

Summary of NERVE DAMAGE by Peter Abrahams

          Roy Valois is a renowned sculptor and artist who is still haunted by his deceased wife Delia Stern. He was working on the last series of his work the Neanderthal Number Nineteen named after Delia and many art dealers became interested on it. He was on the middle of finishing his work when something inside him have been torturing his body.

            When he was diagnosed of having a rare virulent form of Cancer called Sarcomatous Unresectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma which usually affects the lungs and sometimes the heartas well. It could be acquired from asbestos exposure and it is incurable. Roy was panicking inside. He insisted to be a part of an experimental program to treat this kind of disease.

            Roy realized how tough life could be not only that he was carrying the burden that Delia had brought to him from the past but also he was totally shook by his present illness. He consulted his friend and lawyer Turk McKenny. They agreed to arrange his last will and to prepare for his obituary. Roy struggled on the complex thought about cheating death.

            With the help of a computer whiz kid working for him Roy had browse illegally through the Internet about his obituary. He read it and the biggest hunting game of his life had begun. He wanted to correct that little mistake on his obituary but he ended up seeking for the truth that his past wife whom he loved with all the love he could give had kept and buried with her had now struck Roy.

            In his effort of seeking for the truth his deceased wife’s true identity was revealed but the love she had for him never faded until the last day of her life. Roy found out that Delia works for a private ranch owner and businessman named Calvin Truesdale and that he was a very dangerous and influential man. Truesdale hid Delia after the helicopter crash and she was pregnant bearing Roy’s daughter. When Roy confronted Truesdale in his own place, there he met her own daughter named Adele. They both found out the truth and despite the fact that Roy is struggling to fight for his life because of cancer, he still has the most precious treasure that make him well through his life and that is Adele.

Nerve Damage by Peter Abrahams

Characters:

1.      Delia Stern 

·         She is allusive because her explanation to Roy about the nature of her work is indirect.

·         She is uncertain on how to tell the truth to her husband. She doesn’t want him to be involved in the conspiracy.

·         She is regretful as mentioned in her last letter for Roy because she did not reveal her true identity to him.

·         Far-off because she was being imprisoned by Calvin Truesdale to keep the secret conspiracy they had work on.

2.      Roy Valois

·         He is artistic as a sculptor.

·         He is ambiguous because he is doubtful about Delia’s identity and how he acquired his illness.

·         He is aggressive because he risk everything even his life to know the truth.

·         Barren because of his new discovery he was becoming incapable of doing the right thing for himself.

·         He is downcast because he was longing for a life with Delia.

3.      Turk Mckenny – He is amenable, supportive, curious, bifocal and persuasive.

·         He is amenable as Roy’s lawyer he gives solution to every problem.

·         Supportive as a friend.

·         Curious about the truth that Delia had kept from them her true identity.

·         Bifocal on pointing out to Roy the possibility of Delia’s death and identity.

·         Persuasive because he had convinced Roy to create an obituary which leads to the true cause of Delia’s disappearance and death.

4.    Calvin Truesdale

·         Ambitious because he was rich yet he wants more he already have.