Billed as a novel in nine parts, this reads
more like nine novellas loosely linked.
The settings move east to west with the sun
– Japan, Hong Kong, China, Mongolia, Petersburg, London, the Western Isles of
Scotland, and the east coast of the USA.
In each location a different lead character engages the reader in their
life, sometimes a single day and at the other extreme, lasting cradle to grave.
There is some overlap of characters in the stories, though this is incidental
and teasing rather than necessary for plot development.
If there is a common theme it may be the
need to escape, physically or mentally, from a situation, or to search for a
solution. If there is an overarching
resolution it is left to the reader to fathom.
Nevertheless the assemblage provides
interesting reading, skilfully employing a variety of styles to address a
variety of modern themes.
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