A gripping, tense story evolves with many unexpected twists and turns
Andre Dubus III's THE GARDEN OF LAST DAYS receives Dan John Miller's fine acting voice as it tells of a stripper who brings her daughter to work, only to find an unusual client with lots of money will change her life. A gripping, tense story evolves with many unexpected twists and turns.

Took too long to develop
I may be generous in the three stars I gave this book. Like many of the other readers, I felt that the story needed to be edited and there was too much detail into some of the charecters involved. I have to say that I did enjoy the last 150 pages or so of the book but all in all, this novel was a disappointment.

The story line was appealing but it just moved too slow for my liking. I was about ready to give up on the novel but I am glad I finished because it did have some redeeming qualities.

I dont think I would reccomend this book to a friend.

A page turner
Great book. Not for the faint of heart. Rich, descriptive writing. Carefully paces itself so you get to know and understand the characters and the settings, then - bam! - the book takes off like a shot. I read it in three days. Even skipped watching a Red Sox playoff game and the Biden-Palin debate so I could finish it (yes, it's that good).

For a much better read, try the original, non-fiction "Welcome to Terrorland"
You can blame but reasonably excuse an author who simply lacks talent, style, etc. But it is inexcusable that Dubus III's last effort fails to cite his obvious primary source, a rather astounding non-fiction account of Atta's pre-9/11 Florida days in the sun, Daniel Hopsicker's Welcome to Terrorland: Mohamed Atta & the 9-11 Cover-up in Florida.

After House of Sand and Fog, a real disappointment
What a let down. I think House of Sand and Fog was was on the best books I've read in a long time. It is almost perfect in setting, characterization and plot. It is well written and very literary in style. However, awaiting his next book I anxiously gobbled it up to see what one of my favorite authors had as an encore. What a disappointment. The characters were described in broad terms and over and over and over again, ad nauseum. The foreshadowing was quite obvious as well. It left nothing to consider for the reader. It was clear what would happen almost from the beginning.

The feelings the terrorists had about Western ideas was extreme and yet it showed the imperfections that might occur once one of them began to love/hate the sexual freedom. Does that sound plausible? How sad to represent almost all Islamic people in this manner.

I do not recommend this book, especially to anyone who read HoS&F as it will be a true let down for the reader. I had to work my way through it with great patience as it was a book my group was reading for our book discussion. No one in the group of 10 women liked it and most did not complete reading it.

Hopefully, Dubus will not rest on his laurels and try harder the next time.