I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Ward Just. I have only read one other of his books, An Unfinished Season (link is my review). I liked that book also, but I liked this one better. Perhaps you have to be "in the mood" for Just's books, and I was this time.In Ward Just's books (it seems...I've only read two) nothing much happens. They are not action-packed. There is a pivotal event, and then you get to ride around in the character's head for the rest of the book while they figure out how they feel about it, what it means, and so forth. When you finish a Ward Just book, you feel like you are losing a friend in a way, so close have you been inside this person's head.
This particular book centers around the murder of a French woman married to an ex-pat American (that's not a spoiler, really, it's on the jacket and comprises the first pages of the book). This takes place post 9/11, and we get a view of how the idea of terrorism has changed the world, and the views of different cultures about it. Fascinating, a quick read, and deep well developed characters.
I said this before, when I read Unfinished Season, but Ward Just has been a prolific writer and more of his books are going on my list.
3 comments:
I love Ward Just. I have read many of his books, but I haven't read this one yet. I think he does such a good job describing the work and social worlds that surround his characters. He is informative and smart without being pedantic or forced.
Nancy Pearl's Book Lust is responsible for turning me onto Just.
Hey, me too!! The first time I ever saw his name was in Book Lust and I had never even heard of him!
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I remember seeing him mentioned in Book Lust and put him on my wishlist.
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