The Elements
Exhaustively explor[es] crime and its aftershocks with a deep sense of empathy ... Earns its billing as an epic ... Boyne’s characters aren’t so easily defined ... Boyne...spins a wide web of characters whose connections range from subtle to stunning ... Striking ... Boyne is deft at blurring...lines ... Visceral ... Still, the framing feels forced, and attempts to adhere to it result in moments of clunkiness ... Boyne artfully trickles his narrators’ back stories and links their fates ... Among Boyne’s gifts is a knack for infusing real-life debates into his fictional world.
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Four interlocking novellas explore the subject of sexual abuse with grit and compassion ... Though each one could stand on its own, the subtle links between them are interesting for readers. Not an easy or comfortable reading experience, the collection raises important questions about complicity and the possibility of recovery from abuse.
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Book clubs will find plenty to discuss in this meaty and challenging read ... Ambitious ... These four interconnected stories pack a wallop when combined in one volume. If the format at times feels too tidy and contrived (especially in the final section), it doesn’t lessen the emotional impact of deeply wounded characters struggling to overcome their guilt and find redemption in the wake of catastrophic trauma.
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