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Jake Fades: A Novel of Impermanence
by
David Guy
Jake is a Zen master and expert bicycle repairman who fixes flats and teaches meditation out of a shop in Bar Harbor, Maine. Hank is his long-time student. The aging Jake hopes that Hank will take over teaching for him. But the commitment-phobic Hank doesn’t feel up to the job, and Jake is beginning to exhibit behavior that looks suspiciously like Alzheimer’s disease. Is a...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
April 10th 2007
by Trumpeter
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A flawless blend of Zen simplicity and literary richness
As a practice, Zen has always confounded me because it is so simple and yet so complex at the same time. Now I understand the principles better after seeing them played out so beautifully in the characters of Jake and Hank in "Jake Fades" by David Guy. You can read this short literary novel quickly, but you'll want to take it slow and savor every insight.
Spiritual/metaphysical content: High. Ever wondered what a Zen retreat is like? In addi...more
As a practice, Zen has always confounded me because it is so simple and yet so complex at the same time. Now I understand the principles better after seeing them played out so beautifully in the characters of Jake and Hank in "Jake Fades" by David Guy. You can read this short literary novel quickly, but you'll want to take it slow and savor every insight.
Spiritual/metaphysical content: High. Ever wondered what a Zen retreat is like? In addi...more
A wonderful and curious book about a Zen master, as told by his long-time student. Jake, the Zen master, has already advised Hank, his protege, that Hank's time has come to begin teaching and leading others. Hank, uncertain of his ability to rise to this demanding position, demurs, while caring for the failing man he has accompanied for many, many years. Through their wonderfully specific and even corporal odyssey through Cambridge's Central Square - dives and donut shops and book stores and a r...more
1 like
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Sometimes the quiet understated mood of a book makes me think I should put it aside and pick up another. This is such a book but as I moved into the last third I became caught up in the relationship between Jake, his assistant, Hank, and Madeliene, who designs a center in which Jake can be the guru of Buddhism and teach others. Unfortunately, Jake has episodes during which he forgets what he is saying, where he is, where he should go and who is with him. Hank who has been as rootless as Jake, is...more
May 28, 2010
Frank Jude
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Zen students, and the zen curious
Shelves:
buddhism,
fiction-novels
David Guy captures much of the beauty, intimacy and unknowingness of zen practice and especially of the teacher/student relationship. I especially love how -- like all authentic zen teaching -- the story contains the heart essence of the dharma as expressed in the simplest gesture, act or human exchange. The final three chapters evoke all the sweetbitterness of zen practice and sesshin. I've never experienced the desire to sit while reading a novel before! In fact, still in the throes of this de...more
I'm a practicing Buddhist, and it was fun to read a buddhist fiction book. I enjoyed this lovely book very much. It was very well-written, funny (at one point hysterically hilarious), and touching; and the author only lapsed into the realm of preachy, my eyes are glazing over, dharma talk 2 times for just a couple paragraphs. I thought that showed great restraint on his part, especially since he writes for Tricycle magazine LOL!
Mostly the book was about life, the universal teacher. It beautifull...more
Mostly the book was about life, the universal teacher. It beautifull...more
There aren't a lot of good realistic novels about Zen practice. There are "zenoirs," my nickname for autobiographies by Zen practitioners, but not many novels and no really good ones.
The challenge for a Zen novel, of course, is to make Zen practice clear to the uninitiated reader. The author has to do this without intruding too much on the story.
So Guy gives us Hank, a narrator who is a long-time Zen student, telling the story as if to someone new or unfamiliar to practice, explaining things as...more
The challenge for a Zen novel, of course, is to make Zen practice clear to the uninitiated reader. The author has to do this without intruding too much on the story.
So Guy gives us Hank, a narrator who is a long-time Zen student, telling the story as if to someone new or unfamiliar to practice, explaining things as...more
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The story seemed contrived,as did much of the dialog. Although I enjoyed some of the insights about life and impermance, I never could get past the feeling that what I was reading was a novelistic version of a Hollywood screenplay. The characters just felt like stock movie characters, the plot felt like a movie plot -- it was as though Guy really hoped his story will be picked up by some producer and made into a film. Actually, I think it could be made into a fine movie -- a movie better than th...more
I can see that my reading enjoyment is closely paralleling my current interests, and for that reason I am willing to overlook a stunningly boring first chapter to this book. Once I got past the bad first chapter, at Paul's suggestion, I really got into the story of the two main characters and enjoyed the journey. Buddhist in orientation, the author seamlessly folds in Buddhist beliefs and how they apply to real life situations via his characters and the unfolding of their lives.
Jake is an elderly Zen master and expert bicycle repairman who fixes flats and teaches meditation out of a shop in Bar Harbor, Maine. Hank is his long-time student, whom Jake hopes will be his successor, but Hank questions his abilities and Jake exhibits signs of dementia…or is it koan-like wisdom? A quiet and deceivingly simple novel that explores the depths of Zen.
The book tells a great story and features very human, fully developed characters. The Buddhism does not get into great depth and will be easy to understand even to the novice. Jake is a very wise person and depending on your life experience you will definitely have some moments which are very applicable to your life. Jake always gives his full attention to whatever is in front of him, from fixing bikes during the day, teaching at his retreats, or interacting with various people in the community....more
Really touching. And fun to read since I live in Central Square Cambridge and that's where it takes place!
The most salient aspect of this book, from my point of view, is that it presents the dilemma regarding sex between student and teacher from the teacher's point of view and shows how the teacher is tempted but resolves the temptation.
There are, however, many fine things about this book. I liked the surprise ending. It's not a "great" book in the sense of something I'll think about for the rest of my life but it certainly holds its own as Buddhist fiction.
There are, however, many fine things about this book. I liked the surprise ending. It's not a "great" book in the sense of something I'll think about for the rest of my life but it certainly holds its own as Buddhist fiction.
A story of passing the zen something (baton? mantle?) from dying Jake to a long-term follower. Touching. Not too idealized. Jake does like to eat, a good thing for a zen teacher. I entertained a couple in Albuquerque who liked baseball and strip clubs. Wearing the robes to Dukes game was OK, but I made them change for the solid gold.
I thought this was a sweet story. The main character learns that his teacher (a Zen priest) wants him to take over, since he's getting old and doesn't feel he can do it anymore. Although Zen is central to the story, most of the overall theme deals with the relationships between the different characters.
i loved this book because of my interest in zen meditation, but also because of the affection the author creates for the zen master. the honesty of the protagonist is convincing and engaging.
Rare item: a zen novel. Characters are definitely very human. And it takes place in Boston/Somerville.
Interesting little novel.
May 05, 2013
Lori
marked it as to-read
Feb 27, 2013
Don
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Feb 24, 2013
Angela Dawn
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Dec 09, 2012
RJC
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Nov 22, 2012
Lee
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Sep 20, 2012
Helen Carter
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Dec 06, 2010 05:07pm