Dennis Ruane

The Man in the Room Dennis Ruane

When Saint Mathew's High School is slated for demolition, irreverent, lovelorn, Duane Ryan  journeys to Homewood, Pennsylvania to see his alma mater one last time.

Struggling with alcoholism, hobbled by pessimism, Duane immerses himself in scenes and personalities from his past, hoping to find inspiration to restart an art career that has been stalled for years.

While reliving his school days and reminiscing about the wayward path he has followed in the decades since, the artist becomes involved with an enigmatic woman who brings him into conflict with his high school nemesis, Father Thomas McGee.

Confrontation with the priest revives a mystery from the past, the disappearance of Sister Sally, a nun novitiate who Duane was once in love with. All clues point to Father McGee's involvement, and when the startling truth is learned, it stuns and transforms Duane, leading him to a new perspective on his career and ultimately changing the course of his life.

"The Man in the Room" is narrated in a humorous and reflective manner by the main character, Duane Ryan, and his tale is highlighted by poignant flashbacks to the time when he attended Saint Mathew's School. The most affecting of these is the death of his father, which occurred the year Duane graduated. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent to what extent this singular event pervades the artist's psyche.

"The Man in the Room" is a journey of introspection and intrigue, a story that encompasses the universal themes of life, death and love, interwoven in a personal account of aspiration, loss, and in the end, the resurrection of a dream..