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Cross Currents (2011)

by John Shors(Favorite Author)

3.84 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

045123460X (ISBN13: 9780451234605)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

NAL Trade

review 1: I began John Shors’ Cross Currents in Washington, D.C., continued it on a long business trip to Thailand, and finished it in Bangkok. I had not heard of the author previously and chose the book because it’s set in Thailand, and this was to be my first visit. I needed a guide, someone who could provide insight into local customs, politics, and beliefs about Americans. I was also interested in the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, which killed more than 230,000 people in 14 nations, including Thailand. Shors’ story is centered on two brothers, one of whom is in trouble and hiding out on the Thai island of Koh Phi Phi, which was ravaged by the tsunami. Leading up to the Dec. 26 tragedy, we are mostly concerned with “Patch,” the brother always in trouble, as he ducks the... more law and, true to his name, helps a local couple keep their bungalow resort in decent repair. All goes well until good brother Ryan arrives to make things right. Ryan’s pretty girlfriend, also along, quickly realizes she has more in common with Patch than Ryan, which tells us that, yes, there are troubled waters ahead.Shors does a nice job blending the stories of the brothers and the struggling Thai family with the devastating tsunami we all know is coming. His knowledge of the locals and their cultures – interestingly, the family’s worst fear is that their business will fail and they’ll have to move to Bangkok – is imparted with skill and a deft touch that is never heavy-handed.The book gave me what I wanted and felt even more genuine the more time I spent in Thailand. A good, four-star read.
review 2: Cross Currents is set in Ko Phi Phi island in 2004, in the days leading up to the tsunami. It is a wonderful story of family relationships and human strength. I was completely drawn into this novel. John Shors was able to transport me to the island. His writing captured all of my senses. The characters are not perfect, but I cared deeply about them and was moved by their relationships and interactions. I knew that the story would ultimately include the tragic tsunami which devastated the island almost a decade ago. I couldn't put the book down...I was so anxious to find out what the outcome would be for these people. There is a portion of the ending that I did Not find as believable as the rest of the novel, but I can overlook this, based on the strength of the rest of the book. This is the first work of Shors' that I have read, but I am looking forward to reading his other novels. less

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