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Aug 02, 2016wyenotgo rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
One issue that lies at the core of this book is that of human frailty, the wrong decisions that we make at times, how those choices affect the arc of our lives, how we come to terms with the mistakes we've made. At one point, Torday writes that when we apologize, we're really asking for a gift: the gift of forgiveness. The question then has to be: Can we bestow that gift upon ourselves? Further, if the one who has been wronged cannot forgive, are we then doomed? The other issue is: When telling a supposedly true story, how important is it that it all be true? If parts of it were made up, so as to tell a good story that people would like, is the entire thing a fraud? Should we feel cheated upon discovering some falsehoods? Or is the story still valid AS A STORY? I don't know the answers to any of those questions. I do know that Torday writes very well and that he has succeeded in presenting us with two quite believable characters, Poxl and his surrogate nephew Eli. Despite all of that, I debated giving the book only two or perhaps 2 1/2 stars because in the end I found it disappointing. I guess that's because what it boils down to is that Poxl is himself a failure and not really a likable man; he's not evil or cowardly, just ineffectual.