DEAF SENTENCE, by David Lodge, Viking Adult, 304 pages, $25.95

As Desmond Bates' hearing erodes, so does his sense of his usefulness and place in the world.

He is a retired British university linguistics professor, and the irony of not being able to clearly hear that to which he has devoted his life is not lost on him. He has become a house husband attending to mundane matters while his wife's business thrives. His hearing loss is causing friction in his marriage as well as embarrassment socially.

At a social event, Desmond's ineffective hearing leads him to mistakenly agree to help an attractive young linguistics student with her Ph.D. thesis. American Alex Loom is at first intriguing, both mentally and sexually. Her entry into his life helps combat his self-isolation, and her Ph.D. topic further piques his interest. She quickly becomes worrisome as she insinuates herself into his family's lives.

Compounding his problems, Desmond's father, who lives a day's drive away in London, is in declining health. His dementia may not allow him to live in his house much longer, and tough decisions face Desmond concerning his father's care. His emotions seesaw between love and irritation.

Author David Lodge's 14th novel is a wry, witty look at aging, blended family dynamics and the trials of hearing loss. The tale is engaging, poignant, honest and tenderly heart-breaking but not bleak.

Lodge's analysis of language through Desmond's linguistics expertise is both poetic and comic. Desmond reflects, "... it's almost funny in a black way, deafness and comedy going hand in hand, as always."

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