In the Land of the Living

author: Austin Ratner

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.73

book published: 2013

rating: 3

read at: 2013/07/02

date added: 2013/07/02

shelves:

review:

Isidore Auberon had a tough childhood. He lost his mom at a young age. On a good day, his dad was neglectful, but on a bad day, he was abusive. Isidore learned to fend for his younger brothers, and in the end, he turned out okay. He got a good job and a wife and a couple sons of his own.



Leo doesn't get along with his brother Mack. Through family tragedy, his younger brother doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with him. Leo keeps trying, but he screws up most attempts at a truce. Leo tries to be like his dad, but realizes that doesn't seem to make him happy.



In The Land Of The Living is a story about fathers and sons and brothers. It is funny and incredibly tragic and feels like a slice of real life. The solutions aren't perfect and the ending isn't really neatly wrapped up, but isn't that just like life?



I enjoyed this book, and found the inner life of Leo to be uncomfortably familiar at times. The writing is reminiscent of John Irving, but Austin Ratner has his own unique voice with this work.





via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/590779500?utm_medium=api&utm_source=rss