The Body Politic

Platzer’s uneven second novel (after Bed-Stuy Is Burning) traces the fates of four New Yorkers in the aftermath of President Trump’s election. Tess and David, a married couple, are reeling from revelations of Tess’s infidelity, the struggles of raising two adolescent boys, and the effects of an accident that left David with debilitating mental and physical symptoms. Their mutual best friend, Tazio, and his girlfriend, Angelica, step in to help Tess and David, but Tazio and Angelica are grappling with their own problems. Tazio is distraught after having worked for Hilary Clinton’s unsuccessful campaign; Angelica, meanwhile, wants more of a romantic commitment than Tazio seems ready to give. The close proximity brings memories (both good and harmful) of Tess and Tazio’s time together as art students. Readers are told these four love one another, but as past betrayals come to light and new ones are revealed, it becomes difficult to believe the strength of their bond. Platzer’s prose, however, can be moving, particularly in the depictions of David’s medical condition. But ultimately, this character-driven drama is hobbled by unbelievable and inconsistent characters. [em](Mar.) [/em]