Jakob Guanzon's debut novel is one for the ages for it tackles the issue of poverty in America with a narrative that is grounded in reality. Rather than dwell on abstractions akin to fellow contemporary authors, Guanzon gives us a touch of bitter realism on current social issues.
The book incorporates quite a chunk of themes including but not limited to poverty, the criminal justice system, debt, and addiction. It delves into the economic landscape of a capitalist society where wealth inequality and consumer capitalism stifle the lower class. As such Guanzon labels each chapter with the amount of cash that the protagonist, Henry, currently has through his expenditures and earnings. This is a constant reminder of the hard fact that the knowledge of our budget and purchasing power is attached to our sense of self-worth.
Essentially, the narrative centers on Henry and his son after their eviction and now having to seek shelter in a pickup truck. It follows their endeavors in the next six months as Henry struggles with his ex-convict status and lack of finances. His escapades in securing a decent birthday experience for Junior sees the story focus on the father-son relationship. The theme is further explored through Henry’s relationship in the past with his father who also exhibited violent tendencies. Guanzon juxtaposes the lives of those living below the poverty line and the abundance of corporate giants such as Walmart and McDonald's.
Abundance shows the intergenerational transfer of bad choices that see the underprivileged groups fall into a sequence of poverty and debt. Kirkus Reviews wrote, “The novel’s structure works well to track the legacy and persistence of bad choices and how they whittle down options in lives that didn’t have many to start with. Guanzon tends to overwrite, but he can be eloquent regarding Henry’s hard, hungry struggle.”
