The Rooming-House

Susan Patrick is a librarian at Ryerson Polytechnical University.

The Rooming-House is the fourth novel in the continuing saga of aspiring
writer Mark Trecroci. It is the early 1970s, and Mark is eking out a
living working for a publishing company. He spends his nights writing in
his room, inspired by his muse, a poster of a nude woman. Through his
friendship with two very different women who live in the rooming house,
Mark comes to understand more about human nature, maturity, and the
complexities of love.

While Paci deftly evokes 1970s Toronto, this novel lacks some of the
passion and youthful exuberance of its predecessor, Sex and Character.
This comparative lack of drama is partly due to the protagonist’s
circumstances: after having his manuscript rejected and losing his job,
he drifts through life, semi-starved and awash in self-absorption.
Paci’s characters are interesting, however, and the book should please
those who enjoyed his previous novels.