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House of Sand and Fogby Andrew Dubus III |
Paula Plash: This book has been sitting on my shelf unread
for atleast a year. This culturally intertwined tale of promise, loss and
confusion completely took me by surprise. The author manages to tell the
story from varying points of view in a very seamless way.
Rating: ****
Debbie Weiss: A woman has her house taken away from her by the County and it is sold at auction to a family originally from Iran. The house was taken from her due to an error at the County office. She feels that the purchase by the Iranian family should be null and void and that she should have her house back. The family refuses to sell the house back and the woman and her new boyfriend don't take "no" for an answer --- and things get really ugly.
I enjoyed this book a lot, even though the ending was rather dark. It was well written and I felt as though I got to know each of the characters very well. I was able to see both sides of the issue and I kept hoping that the two sides would be able to work things out. Rating: ****
Kim Sisto Robinson: Finally, a book that blew my tights off! "The House of Sand and Fog" has EVERYTHING a powerhouse novel should have: electrifying narratives, explosive content, and of course, flawed, unforgettable characters. Andre Dubus III writes a deliciously emotional story about an immigrant, Massoud Amir, who leaves Iran because of political reasons to come to America. Under the Shaw he wore the best French suits and Italian shoes. He WAS somebody. "I was colonel in the Imperial Air Force. Did you know that, Mr. Torez? I was colonel." But in America, Massoud Amir is working three jobs just to keep up appearances. In America, he becomes less of a man - and the French suits and Italian shoes mean absolutely nothing.
"The House of Sand and Fog" is the story of misplaced individuals who are struggling
to find themselves, individuals who cannot seem to find their way, individuals who are lost
in a world they don't belong. I appreciate how Dubus uses fog as a form of
imagery throughout the book to represent disorder and confusion. And when the density
of the fog becomes thick enough, none of the characters can prevent what will eventually
happen in the end. Every foundation will sink into the soft sand, and sadly, nobody
will find their way back into reality. A five star treasure.
Rating: *****
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