Review: The Freeze by Ron DeBoer

In The Freeze by Ron DeBoer, readers are given a glimpse not only into the author’s own life, but into a dynamic and challenging period of American history.

In New York City, the late 1950s and 1960s were a time of social revolution, alternative lifestyles, alcohol, drugs, music and cultural change. Growing up in that era, and in that place, represents a seminal experience in American life, and this novel is an evocative portrait of both time and place.

The Dunn family takes center stage in this novel, particularly Kate, an ambitious and bold young girl who doesn’t accept limitations, but is also just beginning to understand the challenges of the adult world. She is hardheaded and strictly faithful to facts, and is particularly curious for a girl her age. Her academic dreams of studying the law fit in quite well with her rigorous devotion to the truth.

The rest of her family, however, is struggling to find its place in the decade after World War II, both financially and personally. Dark dreams of the past haunt her father, who didn’t come back as the same man who left, while her mother has become more reserved and secretive, worried that she may not be able to keep the family together. The drama of adults and the oblivious passions of children blend into a brilliant portrait of the Dunn clan. Interspersed with other colorful characters and storytellers, this novel has the feel of a shadowy fairy tale at times, with whimsy and tragedy often sharing the page.

This book is also an homage to New York City itself – the scenes in Washington Heights and elsewhere provide a vivid and detailed picture for readers who may be unfamiliar with the Big Apple. For Baby Boomers reading this book, the insights into the emotional plight and mental struggles of the 1950s will be difficult to deny. For younger generations, The Freeze is a raw and honest depiction of a significant time in American history, couched within one of the most important cities in the world.

Many of the story’s events are seen through the lens of youth, which makes them more accessible, and arguably more powerful, as these recollections come from a place of fresh awareness and vulnerability, making the observations more impactful. At times, the book does cover somewhat familiar territory, but DeBoer’s strong prose lends poetry to moments you may have seen before.

In terms of the technical quality of the writing, the colloquial nature of speech is immediately impressive, and with only a few exceptions, the dialogue sparkles with authenticity. The prose overall is poetic and graceful, as DeBoer is never afraid to play with language or draw out a clever metaphor, which gives the book its own momentum beyond the story.

When a writer can have fun, while still telling a gripping story, it shows a love for the subject, and a deft pen. DeBoer welcomes readers into his heart, and his own history, to discuss important cultural and social ideas. Ranging from alcoholism and the treatment of veterans to conflicts of human nature and the complexity of familial love, The Freeze is a far more memorable story than it may first appear.