In July 1962 an Air
France jet crashed at Orly killing over a hundred people, most of
them the elites of Atlanta, Georgia. These were the art lovers of
Atlanta: lawyers, doctors, architects, and their wives. The crash
left children bereft and the city in shock.
The story is based
on an actual event, but the characters are fictional. The story is
filled with troubled characters: the Mayor of Atlanta, who must also
care for his wife: Robert, whose mistress dies in the crash leaving
him so guilt ridden he can hardly function; and Robert’s friend,
Raif, whose parents were killed in the crash but he couldn’t be
happier spending their money.
The book is a study
in how people react to tragedy, grow, and change their lives. One of
the interesting parts of the book involves Piedmont, a young
black-man, and his interactions with the upper crust of Atlanta. Set
in the Civil Rights era, it gives a perspective on how people viewed the
intermingling of the races in that era.
I enjoyed the book.
The historical perspective was compelling. However, I felt that too
many stories were interwoven. The main one, for me, was between Robert,
Lily, his wife, and Piedmont. I felt that their story was what the
book was really about. The others characters were there for
atmosphere.
I received this book
from Net Galley for this review.
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