The Paternity Test

In his new novel, Lowenthal returns to the intermingled themes that characterized his first (The Same Embrace): gay identity and Jewish family dynamics. Here, however, it's not coming out that precipitates crisis; it's the decision of a long-time gay couple to have a baby. Pat, weary of his partner Stu's philandering, proposes that the two move from swinging Manhattan to isolated Cape Cod, the perfect place (according to Pat) to raise a family. At first Stu resists, but when he realizes that he may provide his father's only hope for a Jewish grandchild, the two men set out to find a surrogate mother. Debora seems perfect, but her hidden longings and Pat's own latent desires, not to mention Stu's familial turmoil, soon complicate everyone's plans. A style that privileges immediacy of feeling over precision of craft can feel spontaneous or, at weaker moments, unpolished. Nevertheless, readers%E2%80%94both gay and straight%E2%80%94will come away from Lowenthal's novel with a deeper understanding not only of the ethical issues surrounding surrogacy, but also of the ever-evolving gay community. (Sept.)