Review: Enriching, Mesmerizing, Challenging
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 13, 2011
Coincidently, I read Discontents just before and during the latest surge of protests in the U.S. The back drop of current events lends this book an even more powerful aura than it easily establishes on its own.This book delivers a well-balanced approach to ideas, emotions and story. It develops an intrigue of its own while weaving real events into its fabric. While the main character is self-righteous and pretentious (in his own subversive sort of way), he is also powerful and unassuming. James Wallace Birch develops him and his world adeptly, from the grit and grace of the main character's graffiti tags to rambling conversations with a homeless sage.In my opinion the greatest achievement of this novel is that whether you agree or disagree with the main character's ideologies (which are very much a part of the story) you can still sink your teeth into this book. On either side of the political or ideological divide you will find things to shake your fist at, and to champion.Discontents is a story, and a good story. At the same time, it is a challenging book. Not challenging to read, but challenging to your senses and ideas. As the name should suggest, if your completely content with your life and the world (and you want to stay that way) then I suppose there might be more appropriate entertainment than this.Thy story begins like a whirring fan, mesmerizing, energizing. And then just as you grow accustomed to the white noise it increases in speed and intensity. The notches are small but constant, and the effect is deceptively gripping. Read it and be challenged. Read it and be enlightened.