Steve Masover

Consequence has complex characters that make you feel like you are getting to know individuals instead of learn factoids that drive a plot line. Masover does not preach any moral messages or attempt to make the reader agree with his point of view. Instead Consequence presents the intertwining lives of a group of people with common goals but differing approaches. The main characters are part of a communal living situation called the Triangle. The relationships between the characters are intriguing by themselves, as they have the strong, supportive bonds of a family, but are robustly individualistic adults who don't cling to each other. It's nice to read a book with characters who have good judgement and treat each other with realistic respect. The mix of having to simultaneously deal with mundane drama while pursuing a larger vision allows Masover to keep the reader deeply engaged while showcasing the consistent, hard work that goes into political movements. The subversive secondary plot-line also gives the novel the tension and intrigue of a spy novel without any unrealistic plot devices.

My favorite part of the novel is that Consequence leaves you with no easy answers, and presents to you the subtleties of trying to make political change a reality. Normally social change is shown to us as sudden uprisings of political thought, with influential figures like Martin Luther King Jr. sprouting up out of no where and bringing about momentous change. What are typically ignored are the hundreds of actions that occur beforehand and build the stage for societal change. Consequence is about those actions, and the people behind them. It shows the struggles individuals face about whether or not to cross moral lines, and the general indifference to nuance the rest of the nation shows as they lump all activist movements together. As with any good novel, the lessons that you learn aren't necessarily from the climax of their goals. In Consequence their greatest victory isn't the results of the political actions they put on, but is from the home and support network they built with each other.

Definitely not your typical novel, and will be equally rewarding for those who don't frequently read, as well as voracious readers who are jaded to the standards.… (plus d'informations)

I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely against the grain of my normal taste but suitably so as I found it really difficult to put down. Page after page of lyrical prose filled this novel. I especially enjoyed the conversations between Chagall and Christopher, which were aggressive and domineering as both parties fought for control and in the end one side completely failing and betraying the other.

I will say, in my opinion this book was not a gut clenching thriller in any sense but it did leave me feeling uncomfortable and afraid of the outcome for many a character. Masover is smooth with his delivery and direct with his words.

5/5 here.… (plus d'informations)