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5.0 out of 5 stars
Life is like that..., 15 Jun 1999
By A Customer
Sometimes life can't be catagorized, squeezed into a genre or fit into a philosophical contsruct, and Ron Hanson's Atticus shows us that sort of life. At first it is the story of a father who has to travel to Mexico to bring back the body of his dead son. The son left Atticus after their relationship crumbled under the weight of family tragedy. Atticus' son Scott was driving when a car accident took the life of Atticus wife and Scott's mother.The novel then seems to veer towards becoming a mystery, as Atticus begins to examine the so-called suicide of his son, and gradually begins to believe that Scott has been murdered, rather than took his own life. A new turn takes up the last third of the novel, as the story becomes how Atticus and Scott are going to try to rebuild their relationship. Will the past be overcome? How can they reconnect after such tragedy? Ron Hanson has written a book that shows us full characters, with sides you would like to know and others you would just as soon not. Scott is by turns irresponsible, devious, loving, talented, mad and vulnerable. Atticus starts the novel as reserved and cold, then shows vulnerability, love, despair and resolve. These aren't perfect people - they are just people thrown terrible curves by life, trying to cope well enough to make it through one more day. You can view this novel from a religious perspective, through the eye of a mystery lover or with the love of family for each other and find food for thought for each perspective. Hanson allows you to discover, rather than reveal, and he doesn't tie up loose ends. He has a gift for finding precise words that describe very imprecise emotions and beliefs, and yet leave room for several different interpretations. Life is like that, and that is why Atticus so appealed to me.
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