Back during my brief college experience, I had developed a deep and intense dislike of waiting for the next book in a series to be released (Harry Potter and The Work and the Glory were largely responsible) and had thus sworn that I would never again start a series until it was completed. This firm resolve lasted until a roommate gave me a Christmas gift-the first book in a series I really wanted to read. I intended to take it home and give it to my mother, but in case you haven't noticed already, I have a serious book addiction.
So I have made this vow several times since, with varying levels of success-and by that I mean I was able to go months or even years without starting a new series, and then something would come along and ruin it. In this instance, I didn't know it was going to be a series, because I'd never seen Jeffrey Archer do that before. And believe me, I was INCREDIBLY annoyed when I got to the end and realized it. Vow broken again.
Anyway, enough about my issues. The books address a theme Archer is fond of, namely: do the circumstances of our birth dictate who we will be? And based on the way he deals with it (in this book and others) I'm going to say he thinks...yes. And no. Being born to privilege doesn't make you a good person, anymore than being born without it makes you a bad one-in fact, it would sometimes seem that exactly the opposite is true, especially in Archer's works.
But what he really likes to explore is the small decisions that shape our lives and make us who we are. And though the decisions made by others can change our lives for good or for ill, it is really how we react to our circumstances that makes us who we are.
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Potentially objectionable content: Some language, some sex, some intense sequences
No comments:
Post a Comment