I hadn't read this author before and when I was browsing some comments on this book on Amazon, it looked like most people enjoyed this but consider The House of Sand and Fog a better book. I first heard of this after Stephen King's glowing review in EW. It's an engrossing story about an exotic dancer named April who brings her 3-year-old daughter Franny to work one night when her regular babysitter is hospitalized. April had no other backup babysitters (I know how that feels). Two of the other main characters are patrons of the Puma club where April works. One is a Muslim man named Bassam, the other is a down-on-his-luck construction worker named AJ. The tension mounts because you just know something bad is going to happen but you're not sure exactly what and then when it does, you've no idea how it'll play out. I read this book very quickly. It is perhaps a bit longer than it needs to be -- sometimes there's just too much description that doesn't really seem necessary. The two main male characters seem to be more fleshed out than April. But that said, it was a good story. I may check out a reading that the author will be giving later this month at a local bookstore. Maybe I'll get my book signed. ( )

A dark view of humanity through the eyes of a terrorist preparing to blow up the twin towers, a young stripper and her 3 year old and a young father who has lost his rights to visit his son because of domestic violence. Well written but very dark. Not as engaging or enthralling as House of Sand and Fog. ( )

Started out very good, I could hardly put it down. The last 1/4 just drug on and on however. I liked the main characters (April, Jean, AJ, Franny) but some of the characters (Bassam, Lonnie) were kind of boring. Even though Bassam was an intergral part of the story (perhaps even the MOST integral part) I just felt nothing for him. ( )

I finished this book but I was struggling with it at the end. I wanted it to finish as I hated the creeping depression I felt most of the way through it. It was pretty seedy and sleazy in many parts too.
It was also difficult because I could not find empathy for any of the characters even though I could see that the author was trying to do so. I particularly had trouble with Bassam & the other hijackers. I wonder if it was because in hindsight of the horrific event, no human being would easily work past that to see those people responsible independently of what they did.
On a positive note, he is a gifted writer and, although minute in their detail, his descriptions are very vivid and insightful. And I must admit it was a powerful observation into how painful and dark some people's lives are making me thankful for all that I have. This novel is very hard to forget as a result.

One night in late summer 2001 told through the eyes of stripper (April), AJ (a patron who was ejected from the strip club), one of the 9/11 terrorists, Asam and Jean, April's landlady and babysitter, who was admitted to the hospital forcing April to bring her 3 year old to work with her. The child is unattended and crying at the back door of the club when AJ sees her and takes her, thinking he is saving her. April entertains Assam, clinching her connection to 9/11. Pretty well written but too long for what was needed and clearly not up to the level of "House of Sand and Fog." ( )