The Keep

by Jennifer Egan

Introduction and Acquisition: New York Times book review, definitely, is when I first got wind of the book.

Time and Circumstance: Fall 2006, at the start of SFDS. My foray into modern literature. After reading the book we saw her do a reading at the Writer's Studio's anniversary shindig. Did not change my opinion of the book, or of the author.

What's cool: I could not put the book down! I read it all in one setting, which kept me up through the wee hours of the morning. If someone has stopped me in mid-read and asked my opinion, I would have said "eh, it's okay." and yet - I could not put it down. There's something to say about that. The language is simple, no fancy gimmicks here. Her plot was twisty, and I appreciated the Escher-like bends.

What kinda sucked: There was nothing that really sucked, so much that I can only say it was okay. It's like seeing a movie that did not necessarily waste your time seeing, but one that you left at the movie theater. Nothing soul-penetrating.

Leftover Thoughts: I like this author. Not love, merely like. But she's a keeper on the periphery of my Like-circle.