MADreads

You be the judge

January 15th, 2008 Mary K. - Central

The Echo Maker by Richard Powers is one of those books that even a few weeks after I got to the end keeps me thinking, did I like this or not?  In parts it was very good and interesting, but it is also very long and detailed and moves pretty slowly.  I listened to the audiobook and I’ll admit that my attention drifted from time to time.

The story is intriguing.  A young man, Mark, is in an accident, the detail of which only become clear at the end of the book.  When he recovers, he is suffering from Capgras syndrome, which means that he doesn’t recognize people close to him and thinks that imposters have taken their place.  In this case, he doesn’t acknowledge his sister Karin or his dog or house. 

After finding out about the accident, Karin gives up her life in California to return to her hometown in Nebraska to care for Mark, who continues to believe she is an imposter, even though she knows many things that only his sister could know.  Karin calls in best-selling author Gerald Weber, who has written book and lectures about neurology, and who comes and goes a few times, but never can help Mark very much.

This book was nominated for the National Book Award,  and may be typical of Power’s style, I have not read any of his other books.  It is thought provoking, but can be frustrating at the same time.  The final verdict?  It’s worth reading for those who like long books that slowly develop the characters and the plot.

Entry Filed under: Literary Fiction