please help me remember a book

[lake_of_dreams]

Hi, I have been trying to think of a book for the past few months and I finally decided to ask some people who might actually know. :)

The only problem is, my memory is very vague. What I remember is the main character's brother died (before the book begins) and you only find this out later, because the main character still thinks about it. It is not emphasized at all, so it is an understated part of his character.

But to help you out, I'll try to think of some books I've been reading lately. Mostly things from the Time Top 100 list, Modern Library Top 100 list, Booker prizes, or classic Science Fiction.

Saul bellow, john o'hara, E m forster, fitzgerald, Ford Maddox Ford, graham greene, hemingway, Dh lawrence, Iris murdoch, Paul bowles, asimov, Philip k dick, Ishiguro, then a few more recent novels (the majority of which I unfortunately forget).. Junot diaz, and some others (books given to me by friends)

Nothing too obscure. So anyway, if anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it! I remember thinking it was a great book and I'd really like to get back in touch with it :)

[lake_of_dreams]

I should also add Chabon..

[Janine]

lake of dreams, welcome to the forum.

Actually, in D.H.Lawrence's novel "Women in Love", it is mentioned that Gerald's (one of the main characters) brother was killed when they were children. Apparently, the blame was on Gerald, causing many repercusions in his life later on. I forget how he died, but it was a key element in the background of the novel. Perhaps he drowned because Gerald was then in charge of the lake and it was his responsibility not to let anyone else die. Now that I think of it, his brother's death was accidental with a pistol, I believe.

[Scheherazade]

In both Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger the main characters have brothers who died before the novel has started.