Incredible

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lynelleb Avatar

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This book seems particularly relevant at the moment, having at it's heart a school shooting.
However, whilst the story is in some ways totally about that single event, the actual act gets very little "page time". This is not a comment piece about gun crime in schools but more of an exploration of human nature, guilt and secrets.
Oliver has been shot and spends a decade in a vegetative state. His Mum steals items for him, his Dad has turned to alcohol and his brother has fled to New York with visions of being an author. This is one extremely fractured family.
10 years on from the shooting questions have to be asked about Oliver's long term future - hope springs eternal that there is still a functioning brain in there but is there any way to unlock him?
In the answering of this question there is a mass re-examination of the past? Why did the shooter take the action he did? Why were certain people targeted/left alone? Could it have been avoided? Who actually knew what?
As it turns out there were several warning signs that were ignored and a massive secret that was the underlying reason for the violence.
The book doesn't rush to it's conclusion but takes the time to really allow us into the thoughts and psyche of all the main characters involved and it's a richer and more moving novel because of it.
A true delight