Atticus: A Novel

Even though it is obvious and clear on the jacket, I picked up this book without the notion that it was going to be a murder mystery. I was more convinced that it was going to be a plain vanilla novel. This is good, because I am not much of a mystery reader. For my taste, the willing suspension of disbelief that most mysteries require is too much to stomach, and I get disappointed way before the end. Atticus is terrific. Not only it is a beautiful story about a father and his prodigal son. It is also an engaging murder mystery with an amazing plot. I was truly surprised at the resolution of the story. There was very little in the plot to suggest that this was how everything would end.The writing was sincere and powerful. Such beautiful similes: "Awkward as a box full of shoes". What an evident and mundane thing to say, and how exquisite. "... the water was as tepid and clear as Perrier but from a distance had the turquoise color of kitchens in the fifties". The description of the wild Mexican landscape, the people of Resurrección, all done to perfection. This was a tactile novel, where you could see and smell and feel what the characters were experiencing.The love that Atticus feels for his son Scott, no matter how messed up, rotten and selfish Scott has been, is so sincere and pure and beyond all reproach that it brought tears to my eyes in more than one occasion. This is one of the best books I have read this year. Do not let this one go by.

I first read Hansen's "Mariette in Ecstasy" back in high school (not for a class) and fell in love with his writing style. Well, that was 7 years ago, and I finally got my chance to read "Atticus" and what can I say? Every word, every page, was captivating. I felt so involved in the story, the setting, and the characters, but mostly I was incredibly moved by the sheer emotion contained in the pages. Rarely have I actually hugged a book when I finished reading it as I did with "Atticus." This is one I intend to read and re-read. For those of you who didn't enjoy it, I don't know what to tell you. You have your tastes and I have mine, but perhaps you missed the point. I suggest a second look. For anyone thinking about buying this book, DO IT! You won't regret it.

This is the first book of Hanson's that I have read and I fell in love with it within the first 30 pages.Hanson brilliantly describes the events that happen in Ressurreccion, Mexico from two points-of-view, which makes this a book that one must read once more after finishing it the first time. This book is so well-written, that it has inspired me to read Mariette in Ecstacy. In my opinion, five stars isn't enough to rate this book.I would also like to suggest this as a book to teach for a class, since this was a book that I read as part of a class and it made it that much better.

I guess you are in for an interesting story when you recognize the name " Atticus" and realize the main character is named after the father in "To Kill a Mockingbird".I have to admit I purchased the book after reading the first page of Chapter 1. One line stuck out "You have lived sixty-seven years and now you have seen a sundog." Reading that compelled me to buy the book. I instinctively knew that I was in for an interesting journey.Ron Hansen's exploration of a common tug 'o war between a son's perceived expections of himself through his father's eyes played out between his characters Atticus and Scott Cody was incredible to witness. Mr. Hansen took me through Atticus and Scott's journey from absolute loss to wholeness. I hated to see Page 247!I recommend this book to a person who is looking for a new author to read, and has no idea where to start. I saw a sundog when I finished this novel, my hats off to you Mr. Hansen! .

I have been to enough book groups now that have chosen Hansen's masterpiece "Atticus," to realize that people are reading this book much too lightly. Because it has the form of a mystery, this does not mean that the novel is strictly a who-done-it. Book group members continually want to rewrite and edit Hansen's book rather than to see what he has done in writing a novel about forgiveness and unconditional parental love. Methinks part of the problem is that the father and son theme of this book takes readers where THEY do not want to go. Because father/son relationships are not externally emotional, readers have to work hard to understand Atticus and Scott, rather than Atticus and Scout of "To Kill A Mockingbird". Harper Lee had the easier job of dissecting father/daughter relationships and told the story from the girl's point of view. Hansen told it like it is when the father and son are at odds. Too bad some members of the reading public find that too painful to face and use Hansen as their scapegoat. "Atticus" needs to be taken seriously.