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The Ha-Ha

A Novel

By Dave King

(6)

| Paperback | 9780316010719

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Book Description

An unforgettable first novel about silence, family, and the imperative of love.

Howard Kapostash has not spoken in thirty years. Ever since a severe blow to the head during his days in the Army, words unravel in his mouth and letters on the page make no sense at all. Because of his extremely limContinue

An unforgettable first novel about silence, family, and the imperative of love.

Howard Kapostash has not spoken in thirty years. Ever since a severe blow to the head during his days in the Army, words unravel in his mouth and letters on the page make no sense at all. Because of his extremely limited communication abilities—a small repertory of gestures and simple sounds—most people think he is disturbed. No one understands that Howard is still the same man he was before enlisting, still awed by the beauty of a landscape, still pining for his high school sweetheart, Sylvia.

Now Sylvia is a single mom with troubles of her own, and she needs Howard’s help. She is being hauled into a drug rehab program and she asks Howard to care for her nine-year-old son, Ryan. The presence of this nervous, resourceful boy in Howard’s life transforms him utterly. With a child’s happiness at stake, communication takes on a fresh urgency, and the routine that Howard has evolved over the years—designed specifically to minimize the agony of human contact—suddenly feels restrictive and even dangerous. Forced out of his groove, Howard finds unexpected delights (in baseball, in work, in meals with his housemates). His home comes alive with the joys, sorrows, and love of a real family. But these changes also open Howard to the risks of loss and to the rage he has spent a lifetime suppressing.

Written with a luminous simplicity and grace, The Ha-Ha follows Howard down his difficult path to a new life. It is a deeply moving and unforgettable story about the cost of war and the infinite worth of human connection

Critics

  • The Best Reviews: Dave King, The Ha-Ha

    "A heartwarming story" Three decades ago while on his first month of duty in Viet Nam, Howard Kapostash suffered a head injury that devastated his communication abilities. Though his intelligence remained average, he no longer could speak, nor write ... (read full critics)

    thebestreviews published on Thu, 16 Sep 2010

  • The Ha-Ha By Dave King

    Dave King's ambitious and original first novel, The Ha-Ha, is about a man unable to speak, write or read, who suddenly finds himself thrust into the role of father figure to a troubled young boy. Wounded by shrapnel early in his tour in Vietnam, Howa ... (read full critics)

    bookpage published on Wed, 15 Sep 2010

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Book Details

  • Rating:
    (6)
    • 5 stars
    • 4 stars
    • 3 stars
    • 2 stars
    • 1 star
  • English Books
  • Paperback 368 Pages
  • ISBN-10: 0316010715
  • ISBN-13: 9780316010719
  • Publisher: Back Bay Books
  • Pub date: Mar 06, 2006
  • Also available as: Hardcover, Audio CD and Audio Cassette
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9780316010719 Paperback $13.99 $11.96 bn.com
$13.99 $11.39 The Book Depository
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