Book Review: Closer to Stone

This book review is quite unusual for me, because its subject is a novel, one based on fiction, but with some sprinkling of relatively true facts such as to encourage the reader to really believe in the story line.

I have difficulty in describing its nature. One could say that it is a tale of two brothers, which would be correct, as far as it goes.

One could also say that it describes a clash between the Muslim religion and Christianity and one would be partly right. It could also be described as the story of a Christian who comes to deeply question his faith, but in all that, it is not a religious book.

It could be described as a love story, the love of two brothers for each other and their love for the one girl and this would be partly right.

So with these teasers, reader, I will not elaborate any further on the story, because, what is the point of reading a novel if you know the beginning and the ending, before you have begun?

I will say that I found this to be a gripping book and one which compelled me to read it in one night. I commenced it on the train and was lucky not to miss my stop, so engrossed was I.

The book contains graphic details of how uncomfortable life must be in the deserts of Africa, and perhaps by way of intentional comparison, of how pleasant life can be, living in the Lockyer Valley of Queensland (floods excepted).

It is a book devoid of “language” or if there was any, it must have been so appropriate to the story at the time, that I cannot remember any. It is written in a simple, elegant and easy to read style such that I think anyone who enjoys a good yarn will enjoy it. I would not hesitate to call it a gripping story.

In summary therefore, if you like a good book which questions, entertains, worries, heightens the emotions and ties you up in knots waiting for its conclusion, you will enjoy this one.