Fulfillment, Lee Cole
Fulfillment is the second novel from Lee Cole, and it traces the increasingly intertwined lives of Emmett and Joel. The half-brothers have very different lives. Emmett is stuck in a rut, working a monotonous job at the titular fulfillment centre, while Joel is an academic and writer. The story begins as the two reunite at their mother’s house, along with Joel’s wife, Alice – whose disillusionment is palpable from the very first page and seems to seep through the rest of the book. As the narrative unfolds, Emmett and Alice find themselves drawn into a hesitant affair.
Cole crafts the novel’s structure with admirable restraint. At first, the meandering pace and circular conversations feel unsatisfying. However, I found that the looseness builds and seems intentional. The dialogue shines when it comes to some of the peripheral characters, like Alice’s maddeningly self-assured friend, Libby. One of the book’s most compelling themes is the nature of work, from the monotony of Emmett’s labour at the warehouse to Alice’s vague ambition to work the land (an idea she never fully commits to). What made Fulfilllment linger for me, long after reading, is Cole’s masterful sense of place and mood, especially when it comes to Kentucky. The parts set in New York are also vividly rendered.
The characters may not be particularly likable or proactive, but their emotional journeys feel genuine. Cole doesn’t force easy resolutions; the novel comes together as a precise web of nuanced, bittersweet relationships. The ending, while understated, is surprisingly affecting.
This is a novel that rewards patience. Fulfillment is well worth your time if you're drawn to character-driven stories that explore inertia, longing, and the quiet drama of everyday life.
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