Stephen Dau

I really want to have liked this more than I did. Dau's prose is lovely and the subject matter is important and of great interest.

My two fundamental issues here are:

1)In an effort not to be sentimental (an effort I applaud) the book feels completely devoid of emotional resonance. Given the subject matter that seems as if it would be impossible, but it left me cold and utterly detached.

2) All of the secondary characters (everyone but Jonas and Christopher) are silly broadly drawn tropes. The Christianity discussion at the foster mother's table is so ludicrous and ham-fisted it made me laugh. As someone who grew up and fled the midwest I see the unmistakable prejudices of a person who lived there and hated it. (I assume he did, I should look that up.) Mr. Dau needs to take a little of the dispassion he brought to Jonas and bring it to his consideration of middle America. It is not perfect, and it certainly celebrates conformity, but it is not filled with the one-dimensionality or the stupidity he brings to it.

I look forward to Dau's next book. He has talent and an impressive knowledge of refugees in America so there is a very good book in there.… (más)