From Publishers WeeklyStarred . Bestseller Gruber (Forgery of Venus) explores America's political involvement in South Asia and the bloody religious and ethnic fanaticism associated with the region in his superb seventh novel. Sonia Laghari, a Pakistani-American writer and psychologist, sets up a conference on peace in Kashmir, the most terrorist-infested place on earth, only to have her and her small group of pacifists abducted and held captive by terrorists, who may or may not be manufacturing nuclear weapons. All but doomed to a public beheading, Sonia uses her familiarity with Islamic doctrine as well as her knowledge of Jungian psychology in an attempt to enlighten her deeply conflicted captors. Though the numerous bombshells at the end may strain credulity, the brilliant character development and labyrinthine plot line, not to mention the absorbing history of modern jihadism and the U.S. war on terrorism, make this a provocative thriller that readers won't soon forget. (May) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.From Booklist*Starred * Grubers last two novels were about a forged Velzquez painting and an undiscovered Shakespeare play. Readers considering this one may wonder how well an author of art-historical thrillers will handle collisions between East and West, faith and unbelief, and Islam and Christianity. Those who have read it will ask a different question: Is there anything Gruber cant write about? In this richly layered tale, Sonia Lagharis attempt to convene a conference in Pakistan called Conflict Resolution on the Subcontinent: A Therapeutic Approach goes awry when the conferees are abducted by jihadis and told that one of them will be beheaded after each fresh infidel outrage. In the U.S., Sonias commando son, Theo, instigates a plot to bring about a military-backed rescue. But Sonia, with her wiles and her understanding of her captors, just might rescue herself. Thats the simple outline, but one of many pleasures in The Good Son is the way Gruber confounds simple explanations. Sonia, for example, is a Catholic Pole who converted to Islam before writing books that scandalized the Islamic world. She practices both religions without compunction and is a Jungian psychologist, to boot. And, before he became a shooter for the U.S. Intelligence Support Detachment, Theo was a mujahedeen hero in Afghanistan. (Trust us, it works.) The pace here isnt as rapid as usual, and much of the story is told in flashback or as discourse. But there are twists and tension aplentyideas, too. If only governments were half as interested in the psychology of violence, maybe war itself might become a work of fiction. --Keir Graff This is a thriller, but also a novel of the mind--I learned more about the radical mindset in these 320 pages than in all the political punditry I've read or watched in the last five years. Highly recommended. Stephen King The brilliant character development and the labyrinthine plot line, not to mention the absorbing history of modern jihadism and the U.S. war on terrorism, make this a provocative thriller that readers won't soon forget. PW (Starred)Is there anything Gruber can't write about? In this richly layered tale, there are twists and tension aplenty--ideas, too. If only governments were half as interested in the psychology of violence, maybe war itself might become a work of fiction. Booklist (Starred)Gruber weaves threads together masterfully while successfully exploring themes of family, duty, loyalty, cultural identity and more, without ever slowing the momentum. Smart, tense and vastly entertaining. KirkusThe Good Son, by Michael Gruber, is one of those few and far between complex, intelligent, and insightful thrillers. The main character, Theo Bailey, is a Special Operations soldier who decides to take a more-or-less unauthorized leave from the Army to locate his mother, Jungian psychotherapist Sonia Bailey Laghari, who's disappeared near Kashmir. Sonia, who'd become a practicing Muslim when she married a Pakistani, was in South Asia to convene a symposium on "Conflict Resolution on the Subcontinent: A Therapeutic Approach" with a group of fellow pacifists. Ironically--given the title of the symposium--she and her fellow participants, who include an American billionaire, a Jesuit priest, and a Quaker couple, are kidnapped by terrorists, who may or may not have nuclear weapons at their disposal. Unless Theo can figure out what's going on and how to foil the terrorists' plans, his mother is doomed. At worst, the terrorists will use the nuclear devices; at best, Sonia and the rest will die by beheading. Because you're immediately sucked into the intricate and page-turning plot, this is a good novel for a long plane flight; but readers who are looking for a thriller with a strong philosophical subtext--the sort of novel that makes you think about families, loyalty, religion, and politics--will find just what they're looking for in Gruber's finest novel to date. Nancy Pearl, Booklust how can i get free textbooks The Good Son: A Novel
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. WindowsBy CS LordI recommend this book to fans of Michael Gruber's superlative writing, insightful reflections on cultures and traditions vastly different from western norms and rich characters with complex psychological drivers. Others always seem to recap the narrative so I speak to other aspects of Gruber's novels. The Good Son opened my eyes to the world order through the eyes of the Pashtun tribes of Pakistan. A world order and cosmology that makes sense given it's ancient historical context.I did not feel the three main characters were as compelling as characters from other books and would have liked more dynamic interaction between these characters and their minor satellites. The story was less compelling and more enlightening which I enjoyed. Not a page turner, however a well done opportunity to learn, grow, and expand one's horizons. I will not forget what I have learned from The Good Son. Well done.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Great and Important BookBy NonaThis is one of the three best books I have ever read.Michael Gruber has grafted a political/religious/sociological/psychological study on the classic thriller drama. Unlike most thrillers where I rush to the improbable ending, knowing the stoic but isolated hero will find a way to ride off into the sunset (while the reader knows that the sun will rise with the next volume) with the beautiful and understanding woman who will somehow nurse him back to physical and psychological health so he can save the world from the next evil opportunist, this book is about much more than the usual improbable thriller plot.In The Good Son: A Novel, Gruber uses the plot as a scaffold for psychological, religious and sociological asides which are far more intriguing and thought provoking than most op ed pieces or news stories about the Middle East.The Good Son: A Novel is really about how holding a mirror to the different ways Americans and Afghanis live their lives. According to Grubers Jungian analyst protagonist, Sonia, the mother of the daring military operative, Theo, Americans believe in progress, money, sex, fame and military strength with a national philosophy based on pragmatism, while Muslims, specifically Afghani tribal Muslims, instead strive to fit in, to achieve harmony and satisfaction as a member of a family or a tribe, all the while believing in God and sincerely trying to do what God wants.The novel is really about the juxtaposition of these two methods of dealing with life, and the conflicts those frameworks cause in Sonias family, in her and Theos heads, and between America, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the people who live in all three countries.Reading about those conflicts gives us the page turning thrill of most adventures, but the asides are as informational as a high level graduate seminar in psychology, sociology and religion. This is really a thriller that makes you think, and, I dont think I have ever said this before about an airplane book, is worth reading again, not for the plot, but to think about the characters musings on life, religion, family and society.Through those musings I learned more and gained far more insight and understanding about the conflict between the West and the Muslim world than I ever gained from reading hard news and "serious" books and magazines.Imagine if John LeCarre met James Frazer (the author of the Golden Bough) and decided to work together to entertain and enlighten. I can not overemphasize how much I loved this book. It is entertaining and educational. If not for the prejudice against popular fiction, I would be unable to understand how this book has not won every award. I dont share that prejudice and thats why I put Important in the title of this review. Grubers fiction can teach us more than many volumes of serious work or scholarly tomes. Read it! And Enjoy it.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Will love and acceptance ever happen?By B. Joyce MartinMichael Gruber is one of my favorite authors in that he combines the violent, seedy and high class of life,the spiritual evils that exist and the spiritual goodness of life in his wonderful books to give us hope for the future.I decided to read The Good Son because I wanted to understand more of what makes some of the Muslim people in life hate us and why their God, Allah sends them on murderous Jihads. Well, I believe my questions have been answered. But, I have also come to understand that every ethnic group has its violent evil side, and that includes Christianity and my own country, because someone evil will always find a way to use religion and government in evil ways.The Good Son is about a mixed race and religion family, practicing modern Islam and Christianity. One would think from what one hears today that such a mixture would not work. But really, the differences are not that great, just how the evil ones on both sides practice their evil or their goodness.The heroine in this story is multi-spiritual and practices whatever fits the circumstance,and quite effectively and honestly.I fully recommend this book to anyone who wishes to come to a better understanding of cultural and religious differences and who might share my own conclusion that it's not how you practice your religion or what religion you practice, it's how you listen to God who speaks to us all through that still, small voice.