What We've Lost Is Nothing

Inclusion. The setting for Rachel Snyder’s debut novel, What We’ve Lost Is Nothing is the village on the border of Chicago where I live, Oak Park, Illinois. Renowned as the home of Frank Lloyd Wright at the beginning of the 20th century, and for the architectural legacy of the homes he built in the community, the town is also recognized for its efforts at racial and economic integration and the inclusion of citizens of any persuasion or categorization into every element of village life. Snyder uses that setting as the backdrop for this well-paced and finely written novel about what happens to the people on a block in this community following a burglary. Underneath the stated values of the characters there is fear, loneliness and prejudice. The title refers to the way one character described the aftermath of the burglary. It takes a lot of effort to include everyone to build a strong community. When something happens to disrupt life, it doesn’t take much for the spirit of inclusion to break down. Readers who enjoy fiction that describes familiar human behavior and explores contemporary challenges in living together are those most likely to enjoy reading this well-written novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase What We’ve Lost Is Nothing from amazon.com.