Terrorist
John Updike
$24.95 (USD)
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Terrorist is a fictional work of art. It introduces us to a world of despair where the main character, Ahmad, is a teenage boy in search of an identity. He is manipulated by others into the dark world of Islamic terrorism and is part of a major suicide bombing plot before he even has a chance to really comprehend what his actions mean and what their impact will be on those around him that care about him. He is the product of an Egyptian father and an Irish-American mother. Since his father abandoned him early in life, Admad is drawn to Shaikh Rashid as a father figure. The true father figure ends up being a Jewish guidance counselor named Jack Levy.

This book is full of irony and exquisite detail. Jack Levy wants to help the boy; he sees potential in him and cannot resist the urge to encourage him. The novel is full of rich characters with frustrating lives. There is Jack’s fat wife who can’t lose weight or motivate herself to do much of anything. Jack feels like he has been a failure his entire life. Ahmad’s mother believes that she cannot attain a meaningful relationship with a man and is also a frustrated artist. There is even a frustrated head of homeland security who feels that his job is futile.

When I read this book, I felt that the characters could be real. I felt their despair. I saw their lives and their surroundings in great detail through John Updike’s narrative. The book is well researched and has quotes from the Koran in English and Arabic. This is my first Updike book, and I can assure you that it will not be the last.