Great novel: Rich Man, Poor Man

I first read Irwin Shaw's Rich Man, Poor Man in May 2001, shortly after finishing my junior year of college. It is the story of the Jordache family over the span of 20+ years, beginning at the end of WWII and continuing through the 1960s. The father is Axel Jordache, who married Mary Pease and had three children: Gretchen, Rudolph, and Thomas. The three of them are the novel's main characters.

Thomas is the youngest but is the first to leave home, which is in upstate New York. He and a friend ignite a cross on private property on V-E day, and when Axel finds out, he sends him away to live with his brother in Ohio. This works out fine for a while, until a couple of twin girls accuse Thomas of impregnating them. After he's bailed out of jail, his uncle kicks him out of town. After a brief stint as a boxer, he gets into some trouble with the mob and has to flee the country.

Gretchen is the oldest, and she leaves home the same night as Thomas. She finds occasional work as an actress in New York City and gets married to a man she meets there. They divorce after a short period of time, and Gretchen remarries a director. They relocate to Los Angeles.

Rudolph stays home and looks after his mother until her death. He goes to college nearby and takes a job in the same town. He becomes a workaholic and accrues enough money to retire in his 30s. He and his wife meet up with Gretchen and Thomas over in Europe for a cruise on Thomas's ship. The book ends with a tragic event that occurs on the trip.

I've read Rich Man, Poor Man three times and have yet to be bored by it. Each character has his (or her) own fascinating story. I would definitely recommend this novel.