House of Sand and Fog (Oprah's Book Club) (Vintage Contemporaries)
by Andre Dubus III

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• ISBN13: 9780375727344
• Condition: New
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Book Reviews of House of Sand and Fog (Oprah's Book Club) (Vintage Contemporaries)

Book Review: Close to Perfection
Summary: 5 Stars

When Mr. Behrani hears about a property auction, he goes in hopes of purchasing a house at a very low price for resale on the open market. He spends the rest of his family's money on the house and they soon move in. Little do they realize that the house was actually wrongly seized from Kathy Nicolo. Mr. Behrani is excited about the potential of the house. He is hoping to regain his family's societal position. Kathy Nicolo's petty life is turned upside down when she is forced out of her house - one of the only thing's she has managed to hold on to. She is determined to reclaim her house - which is now inhabited by the Behranis, whom she views as devious people who have stolen her house away from her (we see otherwise through the eyes of Mr. Behrani): "no one wants any trouble here at all. Except you. You don't seem to want to do the right thing, which is to sell this house back at the price you paid so it can be returned to the real owner." (162). Kathy does not seem to want to see any other side but her own. Meanwhile, her relationship with Lester Burdon escalates. Les befriends Kathy, and takes her side. He also tries to help her the best he can, but ends up deeply entangled in her fight. When he gets matched up with Kathy, he is doomed to fail horribly. Kathy is the device that dismantles any hope for a peaceful and just resolution. She does not realize she is doing this, however, and the outcome is definitely not even close to what she could have imagined.

The book's climactic ending does not allow for the ability to put the book down. The complex and various emotions that this wonderfully assembled ending puts the reader through vary from fear, to hope, to hopelessness, to anxiety, impatience, anger, and sadness. The tragic yet enthralling conclusion to this perfectly flowing novel is simply perfect. The stunning events that come to light cannot easily be forgotten. It is so moving that the reader will find himself thinking about it for months. These are all qualities I look for in a novel, and I believe they should exist in all works of literature.

Personally, I enjoyed this expertly written piece of literature very much because of the riveting qualities it possesses. The style in which it is written is excellent. The point of view switches from character to character, making the book more objective than if it was all from one side. You see many parts of events transpire through the eyes of both main characters. This lets the reader choose sides. Also this style of writing with this particular story causes the reader to think about who is right. The only thing I dislike is the incredible deviation of character Lester goes through. He is a police officer. I do not think he would be so rash and reckless in his behavior. Although I think that, I do not see any other way the wonderful ending could have occurred had his rationality not degenerated. So I am still very impressed with the excellence of this book.

This book is an updated version of a Greek tragedy. It is closely related to this type of story, and the full potential of this novel can only be achieved if the reader has an understanding in this area. Many structural and qualitative comparisons can be made. The author has done a marvelous job of modeling this book after a Greek tragedy. This, along with entertainment, and several meaningful lessons were the purpose of this story. Dubus III definitely has the expertise to craft such a novel, this being his third. He has also won several literary awards. This is a must-read for anyone looking for something full of action and suspense.

Summary of House of Sand and Fog (Oprah's Book Club) (Vintage Contemporaries)

Dubus tells his tragic tale from the viewpoints of the two main adversaries, Behrani and Kathy. To both of them, the house represents something more than just a place to live. For the colonel, it is a foot in the door of the American dream; for Kathy, a reminder of a kinder, gentler past. In prose that is simple yet evocative, House of Sand and Fog builds to its inevitable denouement, one that is painfully dark but unfailingly honest. --Alix Wilber

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