The story is set in 1950s Cleveland, where the Williams family—including Clinton (14–16 years old), his alcoholic, former socialist father Ralph, and his anxious, overprotective mother Annabel—is dysfunctional. Annabel’s overwhelming affection is reserved for her older son, the handsome and charismatic but morally vacant Berry-Berry, a traveling vagabond and petty criminal.Â
For months, the family has awaited Berry-Berry’s return. Meanwhile, Clinton copes by obsessively filling notebooks with overheard conversations, eavesdropping on his family, and fantasizing about his absent brother’s exploits.Â
The plot unfolds in these key parts:
- Florida trip. After receiving a clue about Berry-Berry’s location, Clinton runs away to Florida, hoping to reconnect with his idolized brother. Instead, he finds a callous and criminal Berry-Berry, is drawn into his world of moral decay, and loses his virginity to a prostitute.
- Echo O’Brien. Upon his return to Cleveland, Clinton falls for Echo O’Brien, a family friend. When Berry-Berry also comes home, the family is temporarily filled with joy, and Berry-Berry begins a romance with Echo.
- Tragedy. Berry-Berry abandons a pregnant Echo, crushing his family’s hopes that he had settled down. Heartbroken, Echo commits suicide.
- Resolution. Clinton initially plans to murder his brother but decides that Berry-Berry’s self-awareness of his own corruption is punishment enough. Berry-Berry leaves for good, and Clinton resumes writing in his notebooks, having gained a more mature and realistic perspective on life.
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