In a post-progress Midwest, beside that omnipotent and mercurial god, Lake Superior, Rainy and his wife Lark have the closest thing to happiness that money can’t buy. Roads and bridges are falling to rot, fanaticism and drug use are uncomfortably common, and towns and cities are forced to scrape by in the shadow of a handful of ultra-wealthy “astronauts” who live apart while exploiting those left in America’s ruins.
Yet none of these evils need deprive Rainy and Lark of their quiet joy. Rainy, a simple but soulful bassist who does odd jobs and plays in a band, and Lark, a cheerful bookseller in a nearly post-book world, form the nucleus of their lakeside community, such as it is, and their love helps create a social center for neighbors who still choose life. As fate would have it, their common goodness isn’t enough to fend off the mindless logic of surrounding social ills.
When it finds them, Rainy takes flight upon the very inland sea whose blessings and curses poetically personify the highs and lows of this present darkness. Pursued by a relentless and complex villain and forced into the role of protector and father, Rainy sails Flower over stormy and peaceful waters in search of a hope that lasts.
I Cheerfully Refuse is a beautiful, if somewhat spiritually ambiguous, tale about whistling in the dark. Problematic material is absent or happens off-screen, making the book appropriate for teenagers, though its slow pace and poetic feel might make it more attractive reading for adults. Strongly recommended.