Providence Saint Joseph author in residence
Little known fact, but Providence Saint Joseph chief flak (and former Daily News staffer) Dan Boyle is an author who has just finished his second novel, "Housecleaning." The book was published by The Haworth Press and it concerns a gay scientist who is busily trying to unravel the secrets of the universe while caring for his dementia-suffering mother.
I haven't read the book, but that summary Dan provided me bears a striking resemblance to "Proof," the Pullitzer Prize winning play by David Auburn. In "Proof" the reclusive daughter of a brilliant but insane mathematician struggles to prove his theorum after his death, and after spending the best years of her life caring for him.
Still, it sounds like there are some big differences from "Proof." First of all, the dementia-suffering mother takes the reader back in time, and Boyle uses the device to write about the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington. Boyle, who grew up in Washington State, also weaves in descriptions of the Pacific Northwest and the Los Angeles area.
Reportedly, the nurses and orderlies at Providence responded to Boyle's book announcement by lining the hallways and shouting "Author! Author!" OK I made that up.