Book review by Tracey
Yet another book revisited from the teen reading years. I suspect that my original experience was made possible by sneaking this book out my mother’s bookshelf. I doubt she would have approved at the time, although I must credit her with being much more open than the parents of most of my friends were. As with other reads, I was curious to know how my opinion of this book had changed with the passing of time and the gathering of adult experience. It’s sort of like watching the original "The Exorcist" movie now. When it was new it caused quite a ruckus, but watching it now is a little more boring. The story is still a good one, involving themes that are both identifiable and alien to an average middle class reader.

Beginning during World War II, two men and a woman involved with the Nazis form a pact to save the wealth they have amassed during the war. What they do with it and with each other, is, of course, the story. There is quite a bit of sex involved, mostly used as a power tool, and the book suggests more freely used as a privilege of the rich and famous. Perhaps it’s true. The story is also about broken families and the relationships formed by the family members in them, which are definitely twisted for the most part. A lot of casual drug use, touted as a privilege of wealthy, famous people is also a deep theme throughout this book. Personally, these people wear me out, which is probably why I prefer to read about them instead of aspiring to be them.

Tracey.