The terminally ill John Hannover is well versed in the intricacies of philosophy and religion, as well as the world of high finance. He has recently found out that he has a daughter, now in her thirties, and she wants to meet him after he has completed a journey, a journey that will teach him of her history. Alone and fragile, John needs a companion to help him along his travels, and he finds Paul. Bankrupt, suicidal and in the process of divorcing his wife, Paul meets John at a cemetery and they embark on this quest for John’s daughter. Travelling on John’s business jet, to Africa and Europe, Paul receives many philosophical insights from his wealthy companion and finds the courage to rediscover himself and mend the relationship with his wife.
Assessment:
Plot: This novel is well plotted and well paced, if a bit cliche in some of its details. Additionally some events seem implausible, and readers will likely feel that the ending strains credulity.
Prose: The prose is solid and the text flows easily with the narrative holding reader attention throughout. That said, there are a few errors in word choice and punctuation.
Originality: The plot is not particularly original, though this is compelling book -- and at times the characters travails feel like fresh takes on familiar themes.
Character Development: John Hanover is a very well developed character. However, Paul is less developed, while minor characters read more like archetypes or caricatures.
Date Submitted: March 06, 2017
