Reader Review: Jay McInerney always complains of being compared to the nihilistic, drug-addicted protagonist of his first book, "Bright Lights, Big City". While his dislike of this comparison is completely understandable, his fans shouldn't jump to the obvious conclusion: that his fiction includes no autobiographical elements. "Brightness Falls" may very well be a more likely candidate for this role. This novel follows about a year in the lives of Russell and Corrine Calloway, a successful New York young couple, depicting the shot at big business Russell takes, and the inevitable tensions that arise in the couple because of it. But this subplot, while interesting in its depiction of the editorial world, and the mergers and acquisitions high-stakes gambling, pales in comparison to the rest of the book. "Brightness Falls" is one of those rare gems, a work of art that sets out to talk about a part of human nature (in this particular case, life as a couple and the passage of time), and accomplishes its goal so fully, so masterfully, that the messages it conveys stand the test of time. So much so, that 21 years after its publication, this book's depiction of marriage and its comentary on it are still absolutely meaningful. Mr. McInerney has triumphed in creating characters that are more human than human, and he probably achieved this by pouring a great deal of his own life experience in them. It should be noted that the character's realism does not make them particularly likeable, but it does make them understandable, almost relatable to. A truly great book, in which almost everyone who is or has been married will see pieces of him or herself reflected. And at the end of the day, that's what makes this novel so important: it forces us to reflect upon ourselves.

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