Review: An ugly story, beautifully told
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 1, 2012
At the end of the day, I think that's what Nigel Bird does best, tells ugly stories in a beautiful way.  The author is drawn to messy lives but he is expert at making us care about these desperate characters.Joe, the protagonist here is constantly making bad decisions.  Sometimes it is the wrong decision for the right reasons, sometimes it is just a bad decision, but the reader is so well placed in Joe's head that we can always understand the why of what is happening.As the novel progresses, the stakes rise until in the end, Joe's life is in the balance.  The writing is beautiful and spare and by the end I felt a cathartic relief.  This story is a roller coaster ride of emotion but a ride well worth taking.