En 1974, un niño sufre el salvaje ataque de un dóberman de su madre. En 1997, otro chiquillo desaparece del patio trasero de su abuela en una soleada mañana de verano. En 1966, una adolescente embarazada ingresa en una residencia de maternidad con el propósito de entregar a su hijo en adopción. En 1991, un joven diverge hacia una carrera como narcotraficante, aunque abriga esperanzas de algo mejor. En el proceso se examinan cuestiones relativas a la identidad, el destino y las circunstancias: ¿por qué nos convertimos en las personas que somos? ¿Cómo acabamos atrapados en una vida que nunca habíamos deseado? Y, ¿podemos cambiar el curso de lo que se nos antoja inevitable?

Dan Chaon is the best. This may be "literary fiction," but it's as unsettling as horror fiction. ( )

Digital audio performed by Jim Soriero.

Chaon was already known as a talented writer of short stories when this debut novel was published. His background with that shorter form shows in this book. The first four chapters of the book introduce us to four different characters and time frames: 1977 and six-year-old Jonah is mauled by the family pet; 1978 and ten-year-old Troy is hanging out with teenagers smoking pot; 1966 and teenaged Nora is about to give birth at a home for unwed mothers; 1997 and six-year-old Loomis disappears from his grandmother’s backyard. Eventually the connections between them will be clear to the reader.

What I really like about Chaon’s writing is how he explores issues of identity, how characters are shaped by their environment, by chance and opportunity, and by the choices they make. There is much to dislike about these damaged people, and yet I am drawn to these characters and their stories. I am distressed by the loneliness they endure and the wrong paths they take, and yet still find some hope for the future.

The changing time frames and points of view do, however, make for a somewhat confusing experience. This is especially true for those who choose the audio version.

Jim Soriero does an excellent job performing the audio. He is a skilled voice artist, with good pacing. Still, given the nonlinear plot, I’m glad I had a text version available so I could go back and reference earlier chapters easily. ( )

I really loved this book -- up until the last chapter. I felt the story was tied up neatly at the end of chapter 35. I was perfectly content with the way the novel ended and then along came chapter 36 to ruin the mood. I will likely look up other books of Chaon's because I was really drawn in by his style of writing, but I'll be a little more cautious about those final chapters... ( )

This book was really well done. However, I did not like because it was too gray--I was depressed for the characters.

I read lots of books that are about depressing things, but this was unalleviated. So, I think the writer is good, but I did not enjoy this. ( )