City of Secrets

Brand. Stewart O’Nan accomplishes more within the 200 pages of his novel, City of Secrets, than most writers can ever achieve. Set in Jerusalem just after World War II, the novel deeply develops one character, Brand, with so much skill that readers could feel comfortable with stating they understand Brand completely. Brand is a camp survivor now driving a taxi. He’s a member of a cell working for the creation of the state of Israel. Brand is displaced in so many respects, and the past seems to be always present with him no matter where he is or what he is doing. O’Nan places faith and despair side by side, and explores past and present moral choices that offer hope and love. The tension in the novel never lets up, and Brand’s choices have far-reaching consequences. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase City of Secrets from amazon.com.