Loyal Rue

The Old WC Loyal Rue

The Old WC tells the story of a man who is in the throes of an existential crisis, occasioned by his struggles with persistent philosophical questions and emergent personal problems. Philosophically, Halvor Bjornsen is troubled by the tension between truth and comfort, as well as the challenge of finding meaning in human suffering. On the personal level his marriage is falling apart and his life has been invaded by his radically hedonistic sister. These philosophical and personal themes intersect as the narrative unfolds. In his attempt to come to terms with his problems Halvor seeks to connect with his Norwegian ancestry. Along the way we encounter a family patriarch, an oil-rich Norwegian bachelor farmer, a childhood sweetheart, a criminally insane sister and a charming pair of teen-age twins. This book is, by turns, humorous, serious, somewhat quirky and ultimately heartwarming.