Merry Christmas!
Tell me, what else can you wish for, but a psychologically sadistic, twisted and obsessive novel about one of the darkest corners of the world? Nothing. So whoever you know that owns an eReader, make sure to offer him or her CAPTURE, by South African writer Roger Smith. I have read many of Smith's works over 2012 and despite maintaining a level of excellence, this one stood out. It even won my Dead End Follies Award for crime novel of the year.
I can give a four stars ranking to something I really like. I can give five stars if it finds its way to my heart, even. But the books I give awards too are special and CAPTURE is that kind of book. It's not for the weak of heart, but it will speak both to your mind and to your soul, like great writing often does.
THREE REASONS TO READ : CAPTURE
1) Nick Exley. A rare occurrence of a double-edged protagonist. He's the victim here, but not every victim is a person you can root for. Smith goes overhead deep into the throes of his despair.
2) The dual landscape. The dual nature of the South African landscape is portrayed so well by Smith, it offers a clear, yet implicit idea of why Nick Exley's drama occurs.
3) The unorthodox narrative. It will take you about 50% of the novel to figure out where Roger Smith is going with it for it seems like a series of tragedy snapshots. But those who bear with the author's eccentric endeavor will be greatly rewarded
THREE TOPICS ABOUT : CAPTURE
1) What does the motion-capture software represent for Nick? Is it in any way related to his decaying state of mind?
2) With Sunny dying in the first pages of the novel, what do you think become the primary drive to Nick's action. What do you think motivates what he does?
3) How would you qualify the relationship between Nick and Dawn? Beyond the idealistic notion of love, do you think they are what each other need? Do they perceive each other as such?
(On 12/25/12, it is free and it will be for a shot period of time)