See, this is a dictator novel. There is a dictator, the President, but for the longest time, the President didn't appear at all. Rather, it was the surrounding characters that were on focus, and these characters were very erratic, operating in a society that slowly but surely appeared to be totalitarian. Eventually, though, the reader realises that the society is totalitarian due to the fact that the President is a tyrant. And yes, things are bizarre. There is no rule of law. Things just occur in ways that are disastrous, and everyone essentially is destroyed, due to the whims of one person, the President.
It was very hard for me to get into the book's rhythm, and so I started wondering whether it would be a book that I would like or not. After reading almost a hundred pages, I still didn't get the flow. But I pushed forward, as always. I don't stop reading books mid-way, so of course I finished it, but still I got the impression that this book was rather slippery and hard to grasp. Overall, though, it was clear that there was a dictator President, and he was making the lives of those around him very miserable.
I have to say, though, I have encountered more gripping dictator novels than this one. In the end, I finished it, and yes, it was tragic, but I didn't feel like I was able to wrap my head around it. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
See my other book reviews here.
