Analyze This: The Treatment

Honestly can't think of anything right now aside from the Boston Marathon, where I know quite a few runners and spectators - so far it seems that all whom I know are OK, but such a tragedy and such a hateful act - attacking one of the true great public, democratic, spirited events in our culture - a day and an events that symbolizes, actualizes, all that is right about America. Hoping that the injured all recover and that the needless death of some will in some way bring about peace and healing - how, I have no idea.

My few stray thoughts about reading: perhaps yesterday I would have knocked Daniel Menaker for engineering such a happy ending (at least for the narrator, Singer) to The Treatment, though right now happy endings seem like a good, palliative idea. Too bad he has to dispose of his most memorable character so crudely, however: the Cuban analyst Morales is the voice the makes this novel special, almost unique - is there really anything memorable about Singer? as noted in previous posts, it's generally the analyzed and not the analyst (or their relationship) that fuels the "in treatment" novels such as Zeno, Portnoy, even Prince of Tides. Singer is kind of a blank, an action figure and studly guy, witty and urbane, but the comic voice of Morales and his steady intrusion into Singer's consciousness makes the novel. So why is he tossed off like a wad of Kleenex at the end? At the end, we learn that Morales is a manipulative and unprofessional character - as he carries way too far a grudge against Singer for leaving the treatment, his practice declines, he seems puny man and even somewhat of a delusional figure - imagining himself the last great Freudian. Earlier on, it certainly seemed as if he was serving the best interest of S. - not giving him comfort and joy but helping him to understand how he could get what he wanted and needed from others in his life. And it would seem, on the evidence, that the treatment was a great success - though Singer (and therefore Menaker?) believe Singer's healthy relationship at the end with Allegra and her children had nothing to do with the analysis but was all Singer's independent doing: quite a slam on a noble medical profession, I would say. OK, sorry to be cranky - let's just say the ending is happy, the theme music comes on, the credits roll. But I can't help it: Morales is the more important character. He deserves a novel of his own.