Year of the Buffalo by Aaron Burch

Year of the Buffalo by Aaron Burch is a humorous novel of literary fiction about the lingering familial dysfunction between two brothers. The book description from the publisher describes it best: “Ernie and his brother, Scott, have never seen eye-to-eye—literally or figuratively. Scott’s a mountain of a man; Ernie’s a meek computer analyst with a shambles of a marriage, who never, ever answers the phone when his brother calls. That all changes when Scott is introduced as the face of Go West!, a video game featuring his old wrestling persona, Mr. Bison. Now among the nouveau riche, Scott invites Ernie to come live with him and his pregnant wife, Holly, a teacher and aspiring diarist, on their new farm—complete with a living, breathing buffalo, Billy. When the video-game producers call on Scott to help sell Go West!, Holly orchestrates an American road trip that sends the brothers eastward and into the less-traveled depths of their hearts and memories. What ensues is an episodic tale that examines themes of grief, sibling rivalry, ambition, and the repercussions of toxic masculinity as it follows the Isaacson brothers’ fumbling attempts to reestablish their childhood relationship—or what they wish that relationship had been.”

On the surface, this novel is about the coming together of two brothers who couldn’t be more different and the ensuing road trip that will hopefully bring them back together. But what this novel is really about is what happens in the margins, and the thoughts behind the silent yet awkward moments and the sighs of discontent between two siblings who never really “got” each other. When brothers Ernie and Scott are reunited after Scott is named the face for a forthcoming video game featuring his past alter-ego as a pro wrestler, an idea is hatched that they’ll spend time together on a road trip. The trip is a painful reminder of their familial dysfunction—both past and present.

Much of the novel deep-dives into digressions and asides, where memories and feelings are parsed. Interiority is the prime narrative force and used to maximum effect. For example, a trip to the hardware store turns into an examination of Ernie’s place in the world, his place in his new living situation with his brother and his wife on their farm, what creatures live in the wooded area on the way to the store, questions of his own handiness, etc. The difference between the two brothers becomes very apparent in this marginalia and is the crux to deciding if these very different people can ever find common ground. Do you think a computer analyst and a former pro wrestler can find common ground? Seems practically impossible. These two brothers have had their whole lives up to this point to find it. Can they do it?

Year of the Buffalo is a worthy literary exploration, both humorous and crushing in equal measures.

I really enjoyed this novel and I highly recommend it. I would give this book 5 stars.

Buy the paperback from the publisher: https://americanbuffalobooks.org/