Shame: A Novel

John Tilden's glory days are far behind him, and now it seems like all he has is the monotony of every day living. He certainly thought there'd be more to it than his ramshackle Oklahoma farm and a mundane job coaching basketball at his old high school. He questions his fatherhood skills too: his oldest son won't speak to him, his younger son wants to quit the basketball team, and now his daughter wants to go out on dates. He loves his wife, but the marriage has settled into complacency.

Now his twentieth high school reunion looms and he has agreed to play in an exhibition game at the reunion, which is sure to be a wretched joke. And his ex-girlfriend's back in town, newly single.

Twenty years is plenty long enough for a man to mope after what might have been. It's time for John to make himself understand that.

John Tilden has a farm, a wife, three kids, and regrets about the way his life has turned out … but it's hard to appreciate the life you have when you're wondering about the one you might have had.