As his loneliness grows more intense, he enters an abusive relationship with fashion executive Caleb, who is disgusted by Jude's limp and his increasing use of a wheelchair. His friends and loved ones begin questioning this isolation as he enters his forties, with Willem especially being baffled with regard to Jude's sexuality. It becomes clear that Jude was sexually traumatized at a very young age, making it difficult for him to engage in romantic relationships. Willem refuses to forgive him too, causing the group to fragment, with only Malcolm remaining friends with all three of them. In spite of successful treatment, and a great deal of apologizing, Jude finds it impossible to forgive JB. The group stages an intervention, where JB mocks Jude by doing a crude imitation of his limp. JB finds success as an artist but also becomes addicted to crystal meth.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group finds success in their respective fields, with Willem becoming a star of theater and then film.
While thankful, the time before the adoption is filled with further bouts of self-harm, as Jude believes he is inherently unworthy of affection. Nonetheless, he thrives in his law practice, and develops a close parent-child relationship with his former professor, Harold, and his wife Julia, which results in the pair adopting him when Jude turns 30. It is clear that he suffers from debilitating mental trauma from his childhood.ĭespite this apparent closeness with his friends, Jude finds himself unable to divulge either detail of his past or current state of mind to his roommate. Unbeknownst to his friends, he also frequently self-harms one such bout of cutting led Willem to take him to Andy Contractor, Jude's doctor and trusted friend. He suffers from a damaged spine which leaves him with a limp and excruciating pain in his legs that comes and goes. The novel's main focus is the enigmatic lawyer, Jude. The book follows their relationships changing under the influence of success, wealth, addiction, and pride. Francis, a disabled genius with a mysterious past Willem Ragnarsson, a kind, handsome man who aspires to be an actor Malcolm Irvine, an architect working at a prestigious firm and Jean-Baptiste "JB" Marion, a quick-witted painter who wants to make a name in the art world.
The novel focuses on the lives of four friends: Jude St.
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