- The New Republic by Lionel Shriver
This is a novel about reporting, terrorism, and truth. Edgar Kellogg is a former lawyer (one would think this would attract me, a fellow ex-attorney) who is making a move to journalism (hey, I write too...I should love this). He lacks the journalistic credentials so is shipped off to cover a sorta-story in Barba, a fictional region in Portugal that has potential terrorist ties. Kellogg finds himself in the shadow of his predecessor, again feeling like an also-ran in life. He becomes steeped in the enclave of Barba hacks and more intimately involved with the purported terrorists than he ever imagined.
I truly sturggled to finish this one and it was only stubborness that propelled me. Two stars for some interesting ideas but the execution did nothing for me. I didn't like the style, wasn't compelled by the characters or plot, and just found it a difficult journey. I did not have an issue with the terrorism plot being played a bit humorously, I just didn't think it was well done.
P.S. Still a bit offended by the guy who peaked in prep school saying: "So I tossed it. I didn't apply to Yale or Harvard, but Haverford."
2 comments:
I usually avoid blogging about albums I hate. I might put them in small roundup of other things to lessen the sting. The only time I do review them in full is when the work is truly half-assed and lazy and not worthy of their talent.
i prob would have skipped the review if it wasn't one of the advance books i get in exchange for doing the reviews. i considered waiting for a second but wanted it off my "to do" list.
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