Literature / Shadow Song

"It is very painful to love someone, and believe that you can never be with them."
—Avrum Feldman

Shadow Song is a 1994 novel by Terry Kay. Following the death of his long-time friend Avrum Feldman, Madison Lee "Bobo" Murphy travels to the Catskills to attend the funeral. During his visit, Bobo reminisces about his summer working at the Pine Hill Inn in 1955, where he first met Avrum, while also falling in love with Amy Lourie, a guest at the Inn with whom he had a summer romance. At Avrum's memorial service, the two see each other for the first time in 38 years, and discover that they both still have feelings for one another.

The book contains examples of:

• Intergenerational Friendship: Avrum to Bobo and Amy. When he meets them, they are 17, and he is 68. Because of their age difference, and the fact that Bobo is from rural Georgia working a summer job in the Catskills, Avrum proclaims it destiny that they should meet and become friends.
• Summer Romance: Bobo had a summer romance with Amy Lourie in 1955. It doesn't last — until they meet thirty-five years later at their mutual friend Avrum's funeral.
• There Are No Coincidences: Avrum believes very strongly in destiny.
• The Svengali: Avrum Feldman may be seen as this to Bobo. While he was a friend, the older Avrum is also shown to be a manipulator whose influence over Bobo's relationships stems from his desire to live vicariously through him and see his unfulfilled romantic fantasies play out for someone else.