A Perfect Night to Go to China

This book, like Lovely Bones, has part of me not sure that I am glad I read it. Haunting and disturbing, Gilmour has created a theme and images that will stay with the reader for a long time to come. A well written short novel with a compelling storyline, there is no doubt that this was an excellent choice for the Govenor General's award.

Gilmore poignantly captures that moment in time when you make a choice, the wrong choice, and then spend the rest of your life wanting to make it again, make it differently. He also brilliantly writes of the instant destruction of the marriage with no room for forgivness or renewal.

This is the story of a father who makes a mistake with devastating consequences. Mr. Gilmour really captures the emotion of that father, Roman, as he tries to get over the tragic loss of his young son.

Roman is a deeply drawn character, who dreams of finding his son and simultaneously tries to get on with his career. Very well done!

A father leaves his 6 year old son in their apartment while he goes to the bar to listen to a couple songs by a girl band and returns to find him missing. The story deals with the father's guilt, his decline and depression and his belief that he can converse with his son in heaven. I found I could not totally connect with the "heaven conversations" and found the ending disappointing.