Wilcox’s novel, “Plain and Normal,” introduces us to Mr. Norris, a character whose foray into the world of gay dating is as much a personal quest as it is a comedic exploration of modern relationships in the vein of a New York eros guide. Persuaded by his recently ex-wife, Pearl Fay, Mr. Norris steps into the volunteer scene, hoping to find romance amidst his post-divorce life in Yonkers. Pearl Fay, the synchronized swimming enthusiast Mr. Norris married young, envisions this as a way for him to emerge from his melancholic state. However, Mr. Norris, while acknowledging his homosexuality, harbors doubts about actually needing a boyfriend.
He reflects on his “honesty,” a concept thrust upon him by Pearl Fay, realizing a part of him was content with a “bland, respectable, sexless marriage.” He wonders, with a touch of wry humor, why he couldn’t have the same comfortable, passionless existence he perceives in many straight relationships.
Like Wilcox’s previous work, notably “Modern Baptists,” “Plain and Normal” is populated with a vibrant cast of quirky individuals. We encounter Bruce Powers, the epitome of heterosexuality in Mr. Norris’s eyes, whose life takes an unexpected turn towards Pearl Fay. Then there’s Ms. Vigoris, the NyLo president who sees Mr. Norris’s gay identity as a trendy asset. Dawne Schmidlapp, a statuesque meter reader and former synchronized swimmer, defies easy categorization in terms of her sexuality. Dusty, a forthright office worker with a nose ring and crew cut, challenges Mr. Norris’s assumptions about lesbian identity. And Mrs. Kundaa, his combative secretary, provides a constant source of bemusement and exasperation.
Mr. Norris observes of Mrs. Kundaa, “For some reason he couldn’t fathom, his secretary seemed to thrive on conflict. When there wasn’t a landlady around to sue for slander or a dog walker to drag off to small-claims court, she would come down with a cold or the flu, which would clear up immediately if she was unjustly billed by Sprint.” Despite his personal dislike, Mr. Norris’s gentlemanly nature compels him to treat her with courtesy.
Wilcox’s writing shines when focused on the nebbishy yet endearing Mr. Norris. His yearning for love, or even just lust, is portrayed with a blend of humor and poignancy. This exploration of desire, navigating the complexities of attraction in a city like New York, feels like a relatable, albeit comedic, eros guide in itself. However, some of the supporting characters occasionally veer into caricature, their backstories and motivations feeling exaggerated and less believable. The revelation of Mrs. Kundaa’s membership in an ultra-exclusive ladies’ club, her past marriage to an abusive count, and her Vietnam War service, while intended to be outlandish, sometimes detract from the narrative’s grounded humor.
As the story progresses, Mr. Norris finds himself entangled in a love triangle involving Walter, Mrs. Kundaa’s fiancé, and Ken Lewis, a former NyLo temp. A particularly insightful scene occurs when Mr. Norris shows Ken an apartment, hoping Ken will take over the lease. The exchange highlights the practicalities of dating in New York, even in the pursuit of “eros”:
“Twenty-one hundred a month and they don’t even give you a stove?”
“This microwave will do a turkey in 20 minutes.”
This brief dialogue encapsulates the blend of absurdity and reality that defines Wilcox’s humor and touches upon the often-comical realities of seeking connection and perhaps even love – an unintentional Eros Guide Ny – within the constraints of city life. While some of the novel’s tangents may be less successful, the core narrative of Mr. Norris’s awkward but heartfelt search for companionship remains genuinely funny and relatable, offering a unique and satirical take on modern relationships and the elusive quest for connection in the contemporary world.
