In a Land of Plenty

There are moments when Pears's talent shines as brightly as it did in his debut, In the Place of Falling Leaves, but this big novel lacks the binding gravity required to unify its satellite plots and characters. The family chronicle, which spans 40 years, begins in 1952, when, days before their wedding, Charles and Mary Freeman purchase a mansion on a hill above a small English mill town. Soon, their home is filled with children (Simon, James, Robert and Alice); servants and their children; relatives and friends. Like the crowded house, the narrative is in constant commotion but lacks a cohesive order. Eventually, however, the novel focuses on James and his adolescent desire to seek a place in the world amidst increasing alienation from his family. These tensions culminate in an enraged encounter and complete estrangement. As James involves himself in new experiences, he nurtures a consuming interest in photography, which allows him to develop a sense of place in the community. The story returns frequently to the mansion, which maintains a tight hold on the rest of the family. A movie theater in town, owned by his cousin Zoe, is also important in maintaining James's limited contact with his family. In his descriptions of the ordinary events in James's life, Pears beautifully evokes a young man's search for a home. In the end, James does find that place: in a fulfilling relationship with a woman, through his photography and, finally, in a reunion with his family. Pears is a fine, thoughtful writer, but this novel's loose construction mutes the impact of some genuinely powerful work. (Mar.)