With his striking powers of observation the author savagely portrays post 9/11 America and a run-down district of New Jersey in which his chief character, young Islamic fanatic Ahmad, lives and works. The story inolves Ahmad's relations with his imam, his black Christian girl friend Joryleen, his Jewish career adviser and his Lebanese employer who manipulates him. A depressing yet dramatic story and I much admired Updike's masterly skill in telling it.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 46 June 2008 ) |
