2008 Woodie Awards
Sleeping In the House of Sand and Fog
Maureen Stemmle
Issue date: 9/22/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Much of the literature that is classified under classic literature has the unfortunate tendency of showing the reader first hand what the life of a tea bag is like, being completely steeped in the details that are like the water of the book: ever-present and sadly necessary for the storyline. Great reading, which, unfortunately, rarely fits under the category of classic literature, often has the reader experiencing what it is like to be a twelve pack at a frat party. Ripped through, or guzzled down rather, and when it is all gone, one marvels at where it all went so soon. House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus III, probably fits better in the former and falls sadly short of the latter. It may, however, very well be a mistake to qualify this as classic yet. It has been featured in Oprah's book of the month club, which is certain to lend a book fifteen minutes of fame, but in reality is no true judge of a book.
House of Sand and Fog is a book that completely drowns a reader in the details of the lives of the main characters Behrani, Kathy, and Lester. The reader is thoroughly imbued in the lives of these people, especially Behrani and Kathy, via the alternating first- person narrative chapters. Unfortunately, being this intimate with the characters makes for fairly arduous reading. In any book that is this detailed, there is a risk of someone getting fed up long before the plot actually starts. It is painfully easy to give up within the first twenty pages of House of Sand and Fog.
Kathy is a recovering addict (of what? All of the above, it seems) whose husband has left her, who's family has shunned her, and who's house has been repossessed for back business taxes. The only problem...the house was her inheritance from her father, and has never been a place of business. So she is trying to get her house back. The only problem is that it has already been sold, and is currently under construction.
Lester Burdon is a police officer that was charged with aiding in Kathy's eviction. Over time, Lester becomes obsessed and enamored with the wastrel and waiflike Kathy. He commits himself to helping Kathy get her house back... among, shall we say, other things. There are a few roadblocks in the way of his desires, namely his wife and kids. He has both, and a steady job in law enforcement. However, he has fallen out of love with his wife and fallen into something with Kathy.
House of Sand and Fog is a book that completely drowns a reader in the details of the lives of the main characters Behrani, Kathy, and Lester. The reader is thoroughly imbued in the lives of these people, especially Behrani and Kathy, via the alternating first- person narrative chapters. Unfortunately, being this intimate with the characters makes for fairly arduous reading. In any book that is this detailed, there is a risk of someone getting fed up long before the plot actually starts. It is painfully easy to give up within the first twenty pages of House of Sand and Fog.
Kathy is a recovering addict (of what? All of the above, it seems) whose husband has left her, who's family has shunned her, and who's house has been repossessed for back business taxes. The only problem...the house was her inheritance from her father, and has never been a place of business. So she is trying to get her house back. The only problem is that it has already been sold, and is currently under construction.
Lester Burdon is a police officer that was charged with aiding in Kathy's eviction. Over time, Lester becomes obsessed and enamored with the wastrel and waiflike Kathy. He commits himself to helping Kathy get her house back... among, shall we say, other things. There are a few roadblocks in the way of his desires, namely his wife and kids. He has both, and a steady job in law enforcement. However, he has fallen out of love with his wife and fallen into something with Kathy.