Prison of Now, the sequel to Jon F. Harmon's Scraps of Grace, is a compelling contemporary novel that delves deep into the "tyranny of the immediate" and the quest for lasting significance amid familial turmoil. Spanning the years 2021 to 2023, the story revolves around the Manion family, who grapple with personal crises and the inevitable decline that accompanies aging.
At the heart of the narrative is Tyler Manion, a human resources director in Chicago, and his wife, Lyvia, an English teacher. As they navigate the complexities of their adult children's lives, they confront the weight of trauma and fractured relationships. Rob, the eldest son living in Portland, appears to be on the verge of a promising career at a consulting firm until he is indicted for federal fraud. This legal turmoil thrusts him into a downward spiral, ultimately leading to a shocking act of violence against his wife, Shawna. Through these experiences, Harmon artfully explores the fragility of human connections and the enduring search for meaning in a chaotic world.
Harmon creates a poignant exploration of family resilience and spiritual awakening set against the turbulent backdrop of the early 2020s. As a sequel to Scraps of Grace, the novel follows Tyler Manion, a middle-aged human resources director whose life is increasingly "walled in" by the "tyranny of the immediate"—a self-imposed confinement where urgent material worries obscure eternal purpose. Harmon masterfully uses the metaphor of the "prison" to describe not only Tyler’s mental state but also the literal and cognitive cages occupied by his family members.
The narrative is anchored by the Manion family's interconnected struggles. Tyler deals with a reactivated Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from a 1990 car accident that triggers vertigo and a life-altering fall. Simultaneously, his wife Lyvia manages her father Bruce’s descent into dementia, prompting deep reflections on "brain-mind dualism" and the survival of the mind even as the physical brain declines. This theme of "aging with dignity" is central to the story, contrasting the family's care for Bruce with Tyler's own health fears.
Harmon addresses heavy societal themes, including racial tension and the complexities of modern policing. This is embodied by Tyler's daughter, Cass, a Chicago detective who faces intense public outcry after a tragic, mistaken shooting of an unarmed man. The family’s fracture is further explored through son Rob’s legal downfall and domestic failure, and adopted daughter Amira’s quest for her biological roots, which culminates in a near-fatal multi-vehicle pileup.
A significant emotional peak occurs when Tyler's long-lost sister, Celia, returns after decades of silence. Her arrival forces the family to peel back the "onions" of their past, revealing harrowing childhood trauma that provides a raw context for her long disappearance. Harmon delivers a compelling study of resilience, challenging the reader to find the keys to spiritual freedom within the cages of the present.
Reviewed by: James B.
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