Windfall : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Should Have Told His Wife Up Front
Review: Ben should have told his wife, Katy, up front. Two minds are better than one and she might not have been so wobbly, stronger backbone. A good read as the reader goes along trying to figure out how to have done it differently. Some may think the latter half of the story follows standard thriller lines. See also "The Moneybag" for legal aspects of a similar situation.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable morality tale for the beach
Review: I picked this book up after hearing it reviewed on NPR and I enjoyed it very much, although I don't think it would reveal anything new on re-reading - hence four stars. I was particularly impressed by the way the author reveals the corrosive effects of keeping secrets - a theme that reminded me of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. (I have not read or seen the more obvious comparison - A Simple Plan). The story moves quickly, and the characters are both believable and sympathetic. A great book to bring to the beach. Recommended, especially to American Lit professors repaying large student loans!

I know very little about the history of morality tales (Aesop's fables, Sophocles' plays, William Bennett's Book of Virtues, etc) but Windfall definately has a "lesson", and I would be very interested in hearing someone talk about this book in that context.

Rating:
Summary: Decent start, interesting premise, lousy finish
Review: This was a disappointing book. It started ok, and actually was a fairly good (maybe B-) read for most of the book, but just a terrible finish (like D-).

The protaganist was just too wimpy. And the book finishes that way.

This was a thriller that was also a human drama (or was it a human drama that was also a thriller?). But the thrill died out, and the drama didn't flourish.

I'd give it one star, but it was decent most of the way through, so let's go with 2**.