2004 Man Booker Prize Longlist

Book Reviews

Havoc, in its Third Year

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TurboBookSnob Review

(continued)

Brigge is also at odds between his pure love for his wife and their unborn child, and his guilty, carnal pleasure with her maid Dorcas.

As the governors of the town circle ever nearer to complete religious fanaticism, his wife approaches her labor, and the case of the Irishwoman edges forward, Brigge must justify his own moral views against those of the day, and weigh the risks that come with venturing a different, and dangerously unpopular, moral stance.

Havoc, in its Third Year is a good book, well-written and well-researched.  The TurboBookSnob found, however, that she wanted to like the novel more than she actually did.  In spite of his competing internal conflicts, John Brigge's character seemed flat and unappealing.  The female characters (Brigge's wife, her maid Dorcas, and the Irishwoman Katherine Shay) seemed to be more caricatures than fully rounded characters.

Havoc, in its Third Year is an enjoyable read, and certainly deserves its place on the Booker 2004 longlist, however it remains to be seen whether or not it will earn one of the few highly coveted shortlist spots.

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