House of Sand and Fog

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't stop reading!
Review: Every night, I read for at least an hour before going to sleep. I intended to start this book last night...instead, I finished it. At 6 a.m. I became so engrossed in the story and the characters' lives and motivations that I had to know what happened to them.

I am a little amused at some reviewers' idea that the basic premise of the story is implausible. I am an attorney working in property law, and I can't honestly say whether it is plausible because the law of property varies from state to state (and sometimes, county to county). In some states, it may be possible to rescind the sale as illegal; in California, I don't know. Stranger things have happened.

While not explicitly describing it, underlying much of Kathy's attitude (character flaws and all) is her frustration with the slowness of the legal system. Like many laypeople, she expects that, once she proves that a mistake has been made, everything will be sorted out by the weekend. She is naive in this belief! She also appears to expect that her lawyer will be able to devote all of her time and attention to Kathy's case--that's just not true in the real world, and that fact was also implicit in the narrative.

I really enjoyed the way that the characters spoke in their own voices. I could understand and empathize with each of them, although I will admit to being less sympathetic to Behrani, a misogynistic, greedy man who cannot accept that, in this country, he is no more important than Kathy, a person he despises as beneath him. Poor guy, in this country he cannot have people beaten because they don't grovel to him. I suspect that, in his heart of hearts, that's his most dear desire--to have people groveling. Especially, his wife. This man's entire sense of self is wrapped up in commanding respect (which actually resembles fear more than respect) from others regardless of whether he has earned any. But the author does an excellent job of portraying Behrani's stifling of his own moral voice through rationalization. In the end, when it is too late, it turns out that he has known the right thing to do all along; he just hasn't paid attention--to his own conscience or to that of his wife and son. Ultimately, it is his suppression of his own moral center that results in tragedy for him.

For those readers who dislike Kathy because of poor choices she has made, be careful--how many of us have never made a poor choice? And whatever her cirumstances, that does not change the fact that the situation in which she finds herself is the result of a governmental screwup. They happen, and they are difficult to correct when they do happen. It is very difficult to get an admission of error from the government--any government.

The character I liked least is Les, the deputy sheriff who takes Kathy's side. I think he might have been set up to be a "defender of women" character to contrast with Behrani's misogyny; however, having known several law enforcement officers, I thought his actions toward the end of the novel were very much out of character for a seasoned officer. Those parts strained my ability to suspend my disbelief.

Still and all, I haven't been able to stop thinking about the characters all day. For me, that's often the hallmark of a great book.

Rating:
Summary: Dark novel, but poetic and suspenseful...
Review: House of Sand and Fog tells the story of three characters from extremely different walks of life whose paths converge unexpectedly due to a struggle over a bungalow in the foggy hills of the California coast. Kathy Nicolo, a recovering drug addict, loses the house due to a bureaucratic error and Colonel Massoud Behrani, an Iranian refugee, compelled to fight for a dignified life in America for his family, purchases it in an auction held by the county. Lester Burdon, a Duputy Sheriff who meets Kathy as a result of all this, finds himself in love with Kathy and bent on helping her reclaim her home. As the characters become more and more blinded by their own needs and ambitions, their paths head in a dangerous direction, and their inability to understand each other and each other's plights only throws them perilously toward reckless and impulsive behavior.

Admittedly, this novel is slow in the beginning and a bit hard to get into, but as the characters connect, the novel picks up speed and draws the reader in. The author's language is poetic and captivating and he maintains an incredible level of detail in his descriptions, so that all senses are accounted for.

The story is told in three different POVs (first person: Kathy, first person: Behrani, and third person Lester) and Dubus switches perspective in each chapter. At first, this was a bit confusing to me, as it took me a minute to acclimate to the new voice, but after thirty pages or so, it flows naturally. The characters are all careful observers of their surroundings, and Dubus' unique POV shifts emphasize how different these people are from each other as we note the contrasting views on the same observations. I appreciated the opportunity to get into the head of all three characters because it helps explain the motivations behind the actions that would otherwise be tough to justify or understand. The voices of each character are believable and the shifts intensify the suspense of the novel.

For the most part, I found this to be a unique and compelling novel, but it does grow extremely dark in some parts, which at times feels as though it's too much to take. It is good to be aware that going into this book you are not entering a clean and easy read. There was also a nagging question in my head throughout the novel - there seemed to be ways all the characters could have avoided the collision their lives take, but it wasn't enough to take away from the enjoyment the book brought me.

Rating:
Summary: This house is built with great writing..
Review: To correct myself, I read House Of Sand and Fog again and to say it, I found the second reading very good. Of course House Of Sand And Fog is about Colonel Berhani; a former Iranian Air Force colonel under the Shah's Air Force. So now, when the fall of Terhan came to the Islamic Revolution, he then escaped with his family and went to California. So now, Berhani is trying to repair his status by buying a house that the county is selling and so he buys the 'bungalow' and things start to turn for the worst. We then meet Kathy; a drug addict who recovers from her addiction and finds out that the county sold the house to someone else and she didnt know that they sold it. So now she is caught in a legal battle with Berhami while he keeps his wife Nadi and his son Ismail in the dark. Then comes in Len; a cop who gets caught in her struggle for the house. Len then falls in love with Kathy, and things start to heat up between the two because they come from two different societies and cant understand each other because of their differences. Then Len breaks into the house and takes hostage Berhami, Nadi, and Ismael in their bathroom. So now things dont look good, and the end is very tragic. I am not going to reveil the ending, but rereading this book made me apperciate a good book when I see it. Some people might not like this book for the way Les acts in the end, but the writing it TOP NOTCH and the characters are fresh and interesting. Andre Dubus III brings Nadi and Berhami to life, and I do have to give him some credit for doing his research on the Persian society and their langugage Farshi.
So if you are looking for a book with some good writing, then this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: one star or five.....
Review: So I'll settle for three. But allow me to explain. I had a hard time with this story. While reading it, I loved it. When I finished it, I hated it. Now that I mulled it over, I decided what my problem was is that I hated every character in this book. It would be disturbing if anyone actually sympathized with these horrible, selfish people. That's how the book was written, and Dubus did an excellent job of describing everyone of these people. So, it was a wonderfully written story (5 stars) about idiot people who continue to make hideous, tragic choices (1 star). Get it?

For me, I don't have to love everybody I read about, and not every ending needs to be a happy one. This book effected me in a way few books have. I was depressed while I was reading it and when I finished. Both Kathy and the Behrani were pathetic, lost souls. Behrani's motives for wanting this house are clear from the beginning, but that didn't make him right. Kathy's motives are murky until almost the end, and she's wrong all the way around as well. Enter Les, and he's just as lost and sad.His motives for saving this house are obvious (Kathy) but that doesn't make him any more mature or intelligent. These three were made for each other, so it wasn't surprising they were thrown together under unpleasant circumstances. If a story leaves me with such a feeling of discomfort several days after I've finished it, I can only assume it's touching a nerve in me somewhere. In a way, we are all sad, pathetic creatures because we all can be prone to a few dark clouds hanging around our heads. I guess it touched my "inner loser."

As far as flaws in the story goes, there were plenty. Most frustrating for me the most was this weird relationship between Kathy and Les. Les, who is married, was mysteriously drawn to Kathy, with no explanation as to why. She's an accident waiting to happen, so what does Les do? He sleeps with her. There was no explanation as to the attraction, what drew him to her, or why he fell so quickly and deeply in love with her. I agree with other reviewers who believe the premise of the story is over the top. But I am someone whose house went into foreclosure due to an error on our mortgage company's part for not a whole lot more than $500, so that's realistic to me. The difference is that the problem was cleared up with a phone call or two. Love it or hate it, it's still an interesting, thought provoking premise.

Give this book a run. Sure, you may hate it, but I believe you're supposed to. That's what makes it so good.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written American Tragedy
Review: Andre Dubus's House of Sand and Fog was a much better book than I expected for a number of reasons, the biggest being that it's intelligent writing and unresolvable plot are not a typical of Oprah Book Club selections. But rising above Oprah isn't what makes it special, only suprising. What gives it its punch is Dubus's development of both the characters and the plot. Not only does the reader understand the dynamics of the immigrant situation, the weakness and uncertainty of a recovering addict and the passive aggressiveness of a troubled cop, but we become sympathetic to each of them. The characters are not merely factions at war with each other, they're humans fighting with their own demons. Reading this book, I continually found myself feeling that I could be any one of these people in the same situation. And that's what drew me into the story so deeply. There are no true villans or heroes here. Just people trying to do what they think is the best thing -- not even what they truly believe to be right. This is not a short book, but it's a page-turner. It's also a relatively simple book to read and even easier to understand, although the story is not easily reconciled. If you usually shy away from Oprah picks, this is one time to put aside any prejudice. If you like generally enjoy her selections, House of Sand and Fog will certainly stand out as onre of the best-written, most distinctive books she's recommended. As a footnote, for those interested in similar immigrant conflict stories, I also highly recommend T.C. Boyle's Tortilla Curtain. Both books are sure to make you more aware of how our country is changing and how we need to change with it.

Rating:
Summary: Tragic and fragile
Review: Tragic and fragile are the two words that come to mind when speaking about "House of Sand and Fog." The characters in this book will break your heart, and not always for the right reasons. What the main character goes through before the novel even really takes off, is just amazing and heartbreaking. And this person has one kind of luck--BAD.

But what really made this book stand out for me was the style of writing. I'm usually one to stick with a bestseller like "Da Vinci Code" or "Bark of the Dogwood" but decided to give this one a shot, and all I can say is that the level of writing is beyond anything I could have imagined. Dubus has given us a very unusual book about some very tragic and fragile people. At times you want to reach into the pages and strangle a few of them, but, not being able to do that, you move on.

I do agree with one other reviewer in that while I was reading this I loved it. Afterwards, I developed a dislike for it. And now, a month later, I'm finding that I want to pick it up again. Someone once said that the purpose of art is to get us to think. "House" certainly does that . . . and more.

Also recommended: THE RULE OF FOUR and Jackson McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD--A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens

Rating:
Summary: SLOW moving and inaccurate setting
Review: I bought this book and have bought others like it for Oprah's endorsement and because I enjoy human stories such as Bastard out of Carolina and Cane River.
But this book was so slow moving and as others have commented - the characters utterly unlikeable, irritating and downright silly.
Why does Lestor barge into the house, hold the family hostage and then proceed to inflict his rage upon them? There is no reason for his silly behavior other than that he is separated from his family and very bitter at his situtation.
Other than that - the writer never truly leads up to this climax. One of the most irritating things about this book - is Dubus' awful and annoying mis-use of California settings.
As any early, unpublished writer will tell you the first thing you learn in creative writing 101 or in any other writing class is "write what you know." I wish Dubus would have learned that lesson.
This Massachusetts author proceeds to write about the California coast and its settings in an inaccurate manner.
When Kathy and Lestor begin meeting - they meet in a Carl's Jr. Are there any Californians such as myself out there? Well, Dubus proceeds to tell us that the Carl's Jr smells of chickens and potatos and all the bar stools were filled....pardon me??????????? Bar stools????
And as Kathy and Lestor are eating - a waitress comes by to top off their coffee...huh??????????
In case you aren't from California, I'll just say that Carl's Jr. is a step above McDonald's and not a big step at that. There are chicken sandwiches but no stools and certainly no waitresses wandering around the place topping off coffee. Sheesh!
My point? Right from the start - when a writer isn't writing what he knows and is making such annoying mistakes as this - that's bad - and shows he's a sloppy writer.

I would pass pass PASS on this sloppy characterization, silly story lines and overall BAD writing.
And Dubus? Please write what you know and stick with the East coast. I mean how hard is it so write diner...hmmm?

Rating:
Summary: Best Book Club Book We Have Ever Had
Review: This was about the 24th meeting of our book club, and so far this was our best book talk by far. There is no definitive right or wrong in this book. It moral questions have very grey answers. There is a lot to think about in this story and a lot to discuss. If you are not in a book club, find a friend who has read it. It really requires discussion after reading. Excellent, rich story with many layers.

Some of us, in the book club, emphasized with one character and felt the other was wrong. Some emphasized with every character in the book. All the characters were both good people and yet morally flawed in some way. Many small decisions made by the characters along the way add up to a sad ending that could have been avoided.

Rating:
Summary: REMARKABLE!!!
Review: "I rise and carry my tea out the front door and walk barefoot upon the grass. The blades are long, at least 2 centimetres, and as I walk around to the side of the house I make a mental note to purchase a grass cutter as well, something used, nothing extravagant. The sky has lost most of it's light and my new neighbours have turned on the lamps in their houses."

A great page-turner in every sense of the word. You either like the characters or you do not.The story basically centres around three people.
Meet Kathy Nicolo, a recovering alcoholic who does not realize that her home in the California hills is up for sale due to non payment of tax duties, and is evicted in a flash. Kathy
treasures this home, for it bears great sentimetal value being a gift from her father, and she hasn't the slightest idea of what this eviction is really about, as she is forced to scamper out of her home.
Meet former Colonel from Iran, Amir Behrani a former follower of the Shah who now after the revolution has made California his home. Forced to take menial jobs since coming to California, Behrani seizes the opportunity to become self employed when he purchases Kathy's house from the state. Behrani plans are for he and his family to live in it for a short while,and afterwards, selling it off at a profit. This will allow him to give menial work a hike for good, and seek out other real estate
areas, whilst restoring the family's dignity with the life they were accustomed to in the East.
Also playing a roll in this fiasco is Sheriff Lester Burdon, a married man who in a short space of time is totally overwhelmed and infatuated by Kathy Nicolo and takes up her crusade against the former Colonel.
The story takes the shape of an ongoing battle between the two, Behrani and Nicolo with the Sheriff at her side. This battle which gets loud and terrible physical at times as each party plots against each other in the meanest way, stopping at nothing and going to unbelievable destructive lengths to get what they both desire, that house in the California hills.
Heather Marshall May 5th 2004

Rating:
Summary: Can I give zero star?
Review: Save your time...save your money - don't read this book.