Compelling read. A real page-turner. Excellent character development and interesting plot.

Oh my goodness, this might be one of the worst books ever. Terrible, boring, and, TERRIBLE!!!!!! I am so disappointed. I want my money back - and fast. I think I'm done reading anything with the name John Updike on it ever again. I'm surprised I'm even awake to write this review, that's how boring this book was. Don't waste your money, time, or energy.

This was my first Updike book -- I know, I know -- and it was clear he did his research about Arab culture and the Quran. I honestly thought the boy would do it in the end and I was a bit discouraged that his teachers could talk him out of it so easily.

I am not always fond of Updike's work but have always admired his skill. The Terrorist is one of those books that inspires a "wow, can that boy write?" response.

Ahmad, a biracial American teenager, has connected deeply with his religion and has found a militant Imam to guide him in developing his spirituality. Because of this he becomes deeply disillusioned by America and all it has to offer. Eventually he hooks up with a fanatic who introduces him to a terrorist cell who plans to blow up the Holland tunnel.

I was skeptical that Updike could maintain the voices needed to carry it off. Having said that, a few of his characters are stereotypical in many ways but, since he is exploring the hysteria surrounding 9/11 and its aftermath, it worked for me although it never quite wow'ed me.

In some ways Updike has written a perfect book. Expertly researched and thought-provoking, yet a perfectly paced, page-turner thriller in its own right. Just the right number of characters, all complex, imperfect, and beautifully drawn. Many times I had to remind myself that this book is fiction, and must be taken as such, which I consider a tribute to the research and writing. But, be warned, the book is consistently negative, cynical and depressing in tone. There is a cat in the book, and even it is depressed and unhappy with Western society, as are all the characters, even the "good guys". That makes it hard reading (it's like "Welcome to Dick Chaney's view of the world"), but I think it is necessary to convince the reader of the deep conviction that the terrorist of the title needs to go on with his plans. Everywhere he turns he finds reason to hate America and its culture, and if we are honest, we'll admit those flaws. You just have to keep reminding yourself as you read this book that there is much good as well.

I felt like Updike didn't really know his protagonist, so the book wasn't that convincing.

John Updike's writing pretty much always deserves five stars, I think. I'm giving this book four because, unlike the Rabbit novels, I don't think I'll return to it again and again -- and I'm not totally sure how I feel about the ending yet.

I have yet to meet an Updike character I really like, but I think I have yet to find one I hate, too. The truth in his novels is uncomfortable and it's almost easy to hate them for it; they're not uplifting by any means, but there's something so undeniably familiar in all of them. And God, could this man write perfect sentences.

Anyway, Terrorist is incredibly interesting and thought-provoking and it's clear to me that Updike stretched himself a bit for this one, which is commendable near the end of such a long and laudable writing career. It's one I'd love to actually talk about with people.

http://prairieprogressive.com/?p=785

Interesting intro to Updike, but given all the praise for the author I am guessing this is not his best. I will read something else by him.

Il romanzo è ambientato ai giorni nostri in quest'amerika preoccupata, anzi terrorizzata dalle minoranze, dove nessuno si sente più sicuro e chiunque si distacchi dal prototipo WASP in qualche modo non ha la vita facile.
La storia è quella di un ragazzo di 18 anni di padre egiziano, andato a "comprare le sigarette" quando Ahmed aveva 3 anni, e di madre iralndese "fuori dagli schemi". In una famiglia atipica come questa, la fede islamica riveste per il protagonista i panni di un padre idealizzato e idolatrato, grazie anche al plagio indotto dall'imam della moschea.
Tutto secondo copione, viene da pensare, ma non è così, la trama si snoda coinvolgendo anche personaggi secondari, ma di grande impatto come Joryleen o Jack Levy. La prima è una ragazza che cerca di capire Ahmed, con il quale vive un amore sostanzialmente platonico, mentre il secondo, di origini ebraiche, è il consulente scolastico che per vari motivi si troverà sempre più coinvolto nelle vicende della famiglia Mulloy.
Le religioni hanno un'importanza latente, la madre cattolica, ma non praticante, il padre mussulmano ma scappato, il consulente di origini ebraiche ma ateo, tutte persone che hanno perso la fede., mentre Ahmed ha solo la fede, crede nel Dio più solo del mondo probabilmente, ma loro due si bastano.
Le religioni sono le colonne sonore di questo libro, un cattolicismo snaturato e ironico come solo un Dio irlandese potrebbe essere, un ebraismo dolente, che emerge prepotentemente paragonato al luteranesimo della moglie di Levy, un Islam intransigente e dominatore, che alla fine, forse, si addolcisce un pochino.
Tanti strati fanno un bel libro, esattamente come le millefoglie e anche se il romanzo, all'inizio, mi è sembrato lento, perchè Updike utilizza tante parole per descrivere le cose, le situazioni, gli ambienti ed i personaggi, il risultato è poi un quadro d'insieme dove risalta lo sfondo che diventa parte integrante del libro.
Credo sia questa la ragione per cui alcuni critici, più che sulla storia, si sono soffermati sul ritratto dell'america che emerge alle spalle del racconto, gli stessi stati uniti che Michael Moore dipinge in modo più sarcastico, ma altrettanto efficace.
Purtroppo l'impatto dell'11 settembre si sta rivelando, con il passare del tempo, sempre più massiccio e variegato, probabilmente da questa distanza ancora non ci è chiaro quanto sia lunga l'onda d'urto che n'è derivata; l'unica parola che mi viene in mente, comunque, è tsunami.