Mackie's Gift

Rating:
Summary: Back Cover Synopsis
Review: Here is the synopsis that appears on the back cover:

On his first day out of an Alabama orphanage, Alexander takes a fateful ride with a highway stranger who inducts him into an eccentric clan of small town misfits. Soon he is dragged into a foolish plot, directed by the erratic leader, Mackie. Alexander is so preoccupied with the feeling of belonging and the amusement of daily life as a country store clerk that he ignores repeated hints of impending destruction. When he is ultimately called upon to perform a senseless act, the truth about his newfound family is revealed and he is faced with a dangerous choice between love and morality.

Mackie's Gift is a personal story of becoming that digs into the quirky and casually violent culture of semi-rural Alabama. It explores how the desire for love and attachment can cause reality to blur, potentially making shocking events appear commonplace. Irreverently funny, honest, and ultimately tragic, Mackie's Gift presents a disturbing interpretation of "love conquers all."


Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Mackie's Gift is well written and explores interesting ideas about the need for love and belonging, especially among the young and naive. It hits on how close to home terrorism might be for all of us. I highly recommend this novel for an easy but insightful read.