Title: Interesting and Timely Premise Flattened by Metaphor, Coincidence and Irony
Review: I was willing to finish this book, but I hurried through the second half because I wanted it to be over, not because I couldn't wait to see how it ended. The book is a lot longer than it should be because the author is constantly kicking the reader in the face with metaphors. And the ironical ending was really too much. The characters are flat in spite of all their introspection, and things work out so patly at the end that it's ridiculous (one character, a felonious arsonist with a drug and alcohol problem who steals construction equipment in his spare time, becomes a police officer!). The mother is incredibly difficult to like considering her very legitimate grief. And a romance subplot between attorneys works out in spite of the guy being a huge jerk because his lady-love finds out that he, of all things, suffers from a disability. Though well-written to some degree, I simply can't recommend this book.
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