Was about halfway through the book when someone asked me if I liked it, I hesitated to think but then realized 1) it had taken me a month to finish the book and 2) I had to think about whether I liked it so the answer was no. Too many moving parts with not enough time nor attention given to any one storyline to make me feel tied to it. Charlotte's paranoid relationship with her dogs, Doug's use, misuse, and abuse of Nate, and the meandering financial storyline were more than I bargained for. I wanted to like this book more than I ended up liking it in the end. The central male character (or one of the two, at least) remains a mystery to me at the end of the story. The other central male character I get - he goes through a period of healing and self discovery and I can understand his actions given who he is, where he is and what has happened to him in life. The primary female character is particularly well drawn, and I like the presentation of most of the peripheral characters as well. It's not just that I don't like the central character (and I don't), it's that I don't fully understand his actions given who he is, where he's been, what he's done and what's happened to him in life.I will certainly look for Haslett's next book, as this one is really well written.
What do You think about Union Atlantic Roman (2009)?
A surprise read! Very well crafted, nicely developed characters, an interesting story - recommended!
—saqi
i tried listening to this book it might be ok but i just wasn't in the mood for a long saga.
—Anna
Excellent book, very much reminded me of Tom Wolfe - especially A Man In Full.
—Ranayj
Solid prose, interesting characters. Worth a look.
—BlackBookWarm
