Terrorist by John Updike - A Book Review

I have to say that Updike is one of those authors that many have told me that I should read, but I never have. I just couldn't get into his Rabbit character, but when I came across this book, I was oddly attracted to it. I wasn't sure what it was going to be about. I mean, I realized that it was about a "terrorist" but I was also savy enough to know that it just couldn't be that straightforward. I was so right.

This book was extremely well written, in that it made me see things from so many different perspectives, especially those that I didn't want to see. Ahmad, the "terrorist", is actually very appealling as a character. It is easy to understand his intense search for God when one considers his surroundings and influences. That is not to say that I ever find acts of terror to be excusable, just that I found him to be a more appealling character than I originally thought. I was pleasantly surprised.

I was rooting for Ahmad to be saved at the end of the story, and without giving it away, all I can say is that sometimes we make the right decision and loose our soul in the process. Updike definitely gives food for thought.

I have a goal to read 100 books this year. This one was number six. You can expect to see more book reviews here, and if you ever post reviews, please link them here. I am always looking for a good book to read!