The Ice Storm

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Exhaustive detailing of early 1970s popular culture in suburban New England sets the stage for a tale of the American nuclear family in decline. The affluent WASP community of New Canaan, Conn., is home to the Hood and Williams families, whose two-parent, two-child households are increasingly dysfunctional. Benjamin Hood, struggling with a loss of importance at work and a growing drinking problem, embarks on an ill-fated affair with Janey Williams, while his wife, Elena, feels her regard for him dwindling. Meanwhile, the adolescents of both families experiment with sex, alcohol, and drugs to forge identities and combat a profound sense of alienation. A neighborhood "key party," where couples exchange partners by drawing keys from a bowl, leads to a chaotic climax as an apocalyptic winter storm brings physical tragedy that mirrors the emotional turmoil within the community. Pop-cultural references from the era, such as Hush Puppies and the film Billy Jack, permeate the narrative. While Moody, a Pushcart Press Editors' Book Award winner for his first novel, tends to present these details in an encyclopedic manner, his portrayal of the families is insightful and convincing, delving into their thoughts and fears. The central tragedy remains resonant, though his critique of cultural decline feels somewhat stale.