"Terminal Abstraction" is the story of a struggling young artist, Harry Murphy, who can't catch any breaks in life. He alienates everone around him, and has little hope of ever amounting to much in the world. Harry must also cope with his father's illness, along with constant battles with the rest of his family. "Terminal Abstraction" will make you feel glad to know that you aren't a struggling artist named Harry Murphy. The author's self-narrative style is very similar to that of J.D. Salinger's.