etc.

Tim Parks has style. I mean real narrative style, a rare combination of internal monologue and a disregard for grammar. It’s a style that takes some getting used to, even though I’ve read his stuff before (Destiny is one of the most memorable novels I’ve read in recent times) I had to reread the first page of this book just to situate myself a bit and get comfortable with the unique way in which he represents social interactions. It didn’t take long to sink comfortably back in.

Daniel Savage is a recently appointed judge whose past extra-marital indiscretions are coming back to haunt him at a time when his life — job, family, marriage — seems to finally be getting back on track. He’s a bit of a lovable truant, Parks does a great job of making him sympathetic even while he is cheating on his wife with his best friend’s partner. He plays one of those dysfunctional heroes who floats through life knowing he needs to clean up his act, while at the same time he grows a bit more smug with every indiscretion he gets away with. He does eventually get his comeuppance, of course, and I wasn’t too broken up about that either.

If you like Parks, you should probably read this. If you haven’t read him yet, start with Destiny or Europa. While this book is entertaining enough, it certainly isn’t Parks at his best.