June 14, 2009

Review: The Way Home by George Pelecanos



Despite being raised by two parents in an upper middle class neighborhood, Chris Flynn took his typical teenage rebellion to an extreme that landed him in juvenile detention until his eighteenth birthday. Now at twenty-six Chris is finally on the right path. He has a job in his father’s carpet business and steers clear of trouble.

While installing carpet one day Chris and his friend Ben find $50,000 under the floor boards of a vacant home. Sorely tempted to take the money Chris does the right thing and convinces Ben that leaving the money is the right choice. But when the rightful owner of the cash comes to pick up his money its missing and he tracks down the pair dragging them back into the side of life Chris thought he would never see again.

Pelecanos does an incredible job of depicting the turmoil within these characters. From Chris’s troubled life to his father’s disappointment in Chris and his inability to voice his love for his son the emotions are clearly felt by the reader. He also knows how to write a well rounded story and even though I did think it was very predictable I still enjoyed reading it. I recommend this one for all fiction readers.

6 comments :

bermudaonion said...

I enjoyed this book too. I felt like Chris lived up to his dad's expectations of him.

KR said...

Was it better than The Turnaround?

MonieG said...

I think I did like it just a bit more than The Turnaround. Next is The Night Gardener. I hope I enjoy that one as much as these two.

Anonymous said...

So glad you liked this, Monie! I think you'll love THE NIGHT GARDENER. Many say it is his best book ever. I think THE WAY HOME is his best...maybe you can break the tie. ;)

Missy B. said...

Wow! This book sounds great. I'm adding it to my list. Thanks for the review!!

valerie2350 said...

I read this one, too - I enjoyed it :)