Angels of Destruction

I think that Keith Donohue's second book is wonderful! It shared the same magical flair as his first book, _The Stolen Child_. This book ended with me wanting more - more of this story, more of his beautiful words, anything. The way he strings words together is simply artful. I enjoyed the use of time and mystery in this novel, not to mention the rich characters. It was completely engrossing. I am already looking forward to his next book.

Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue is the best new novel I have read in a long time. Whether you are inclined to believe in angels, in bodhisattvas, or merely in the kindness of strangers, you will find it hard not to be captivated by this richly imagined work. As in his first novel, The Stolen Child, the author displays a gift for investing the most common objects and events with the magic of another world, as if illuminating ordinary reality from another dimension. And as in his first novel he vividly evokes a world of childhood, of children longing for lost parents, and of parents for their lost children. There is suspense at every turn in the story of the mysterious nine-year old angel/child appearing in a Pennsylvania town, to comfort both a mother abandoned by her daughter and a boy by his father, while she is herself pursued by a sinister angel. Interwoven is the subplot of two rebellious teenagers (the woman's daughter and her dangerous boyfriend) crossing the country to join a band of domestic terrorists. In addition to being what I would call a real page turner, the book explores a variety of themes: faith; redemption; illusion and reality; identity; the bond between child and parent, etc. And for the literarily inclined, the novel is rich with allusions (Emerson, Wallace Stevens, Auden, the Upanishads, the Book of Revelation, etc.). I highly recommend this book as well as the audio CD, which is beautifully read.

After reading Keith Donohue's first book, "The Stolen Child," I told my wife I can't recall reading a book I enjoyed more, so I was understandably eager to read "Angels of Destruction." It, too, was mesmerizing. Donohue deals with subjects of myth and lore in contemporary terms that don't leave me questioning their plausibility. He doesn't over-define or wrap things up too tightly, leaving plenty of room for his readers' thoughts. I just hop into the first few pages of his books and enjoy the ride, always a little sorry to reach the end.

In this second novel by a talented author, the story flows along so beautifully that the reader does not want to skip one syllable for fear of missing something wonderful. At times sad,yet with hope always underlying every chapter,the story was easy to love. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys something different and likes to be surprised by their books.

This book says much about the human condition, especially about the relationship between parent and child. The author paints so well in words the way we interact only on the surface, and fail to truly communicate our deepest hopes, loves, and fears. At moments, the book is heart-wrenching, not so much for what is said, but for what is unsaid. The characters are drawn so realistically, that when I was finished reading, I wanted to know what the future held for these people. The fantasy aspect to this book leaves much for one to question, but again, is that not part of the human condition? I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the fantastic, the painful, the hopeful, and the thoughtful. It grabs you by the heart from page one and does not let go. For those that have read The Stolen Child, I found this book to be superior, especially in terms of character development.