I’ve read a few Ward Just novels and none of them made much of an impression. Sure, Ward Just novels have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, but they leave me cold.
I decided to give Ward Just one more try, so I picked Forgetfulness (2006). Ward Just’s 15th novel begins in the Pyrenees, with four men carrying the injured Florette DuFour down a treacherous mountain trail in the dark. Florette decided to take a walk while her husband stayed in a restaurant to drink wine with some old friends. But, a miles away from the restaurant, Florette stumbled and fractured her ankle.
Florette’s accident takes place near a mountain shelter equipped with a stretcher. Four men find her, but speak a language Florette doesn’t understand. They place Florette on the stretcher and start to take her down the mountain. At a certain point, the men put the stretcher down to rest. The leader slits Florette’s throat.
At this point, I thought Forgetfulness would turn into a revenge novel. Florette’s American husband, Thomas, has some CIA connections in his past. But, Ward Just decides to explore the treatment of political prisoners.
Once again I came to the end of Ward Just novel with disappointment. Forgetfulness will be the last Ward Just novel I’ll read. But, to be fair, you might want to check out this laudatory review which calls Forgetfulness one of Ward Just’s best novels here. GRADE: C
If you say it sucks, that’s good enough for me! Not that I planned to read this book from an author I’ve never heard of anyway!
Bob, Ward Just had a long and successful career. But, his books never connected with me.
Just has been around for a long time. I’ve noticed his books, read a few reviews (mostly favorable), but I’ve never tried one and this isn’t likely to change my mind. There are too many writers who appeal to me to try one who doesn’t.
Michael, I tried to find Ward Just’s appeal…but it escaped me.
I’ve never heard of Just, and your review doesn’t incline me to think I’ve been missing much. My very first thought as I read the plot summary was, if they were just going to slit the woman’s throat anyway, why didn’t they just do that when they found her and save themselves the trouble of bringing her down the mountain on a stretcher? But I wasn’t thinking that in a curious way that made me want to grab the book and find out, I was thinking that in a way that didn’t give me much confidence in the author. You gave Just more than enough chances to float your boat, and he never did. Not every writer can do it for every reader, and there are only so many chances you can give a writer before you move on.
Exactly my thought, Deb! WTF? I tried a Just book years ago and couldn’t get interested in it at all. This isn’t going to change that.
Jeff, despite the glowing reviews for Ward Just books, I didn’t like any of his books I read. Diane has been after me to get rid of books and weed my collection so the dozen or so Ward Just books will be leaving my house in a week or two as soon as I box them up.
Deb, I love your “you gave Just more than enough catches to float your boat, but he never did” analysis. I try to give all the writers a fair chance but some writers just don’t connect with me. I’m sure it’s my fault.
Never heard of him. The title made me think it was a non fiction book, to help with memory issues. but even that wouldn’t be for me. I’m reading a lot less these days
Maggie, we’ve been listening to more audiobooks.
I’ve read a few. Many are set in Vietnam and concern that conflict. He is very popular with historians. I didn’t order this one but I did order one. I’ll let you know. I did finish LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY which I didn’t dislike but found annoying off and on. A six-year old doesn’t have the breadth of knowledge that kid had no matter what. And I never felt I really understood the main character. I did understand the dog though. The plight of women of that era was demoralizing .
Patti, my reactions to LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY mirror yours. Male behavior towards women was horrendous in the 1950s and 1969s…and it’s not so great today. The child’s knowledge wasn’t believable. The main character’s actions were sometimes cryptic to me. If you want some Ward Just novels, just let me know and I’ll be happy to send them to you.
I remember trying Just many years ago, but obviously he made little impression and forgot about him. May have dig back into my mini-reviews and see what I said about his books.
BKent, the books, the Black & White TV series, and now this HBO series all present very different versions of Perry Mason.