You should read this book!

I just finished reading a wonderful book, Border Songs by Jim Lynch. Have you read it? If not, put it on your "to be read" list. It is a terrific book.

The story is set along the border between Washington and British Columbia and concerns a unique Border Patrol agent named Brandon Vanderkool. Brandon is a 6'8" tall dyslexic, borderline autistic, birder who is so finely attuned to Nature that he notices everything. This quality, it turns out, makes him a very successful BP agent. He catches smugglers and illegal entrants to the country without even trying, without even really wanting to, just because he can't help noticing all the tiny clues that betray them.

Around this central character, Lynch has woven a lyrical story about life along the border, about dairy farmers and pot growers, a Canadian and American community threatened by America's paranoia about terrorism, about outsiders and people searching for love and belonging, and people just trying to find a way to get through another day with a little dignity. It is a quirky and funny book - there are several laugh-out-loud moments.

Once I got about halfway through the book, I didn't want to put it down and I read right on through to the finish. And then I didn't want it to end. But even the ending was perfect.

This was Lynch's second book. I think I need to look up his first one. It was called The Highest Tide. Have you read it?

Comments

  1. Susan January 18, 2010 at 8:50 AM

    I saw it at Target of all places, and almost picked it up! Looks like something I'd enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dorothy BordersJanuary 18, 2010 at 10:33 AM

    I think you would, Susan B. It's a very rich book with a lot to think about. Besides, any book set in Washington State and not including vampires in its list of characters has something to recommend it!

    ReplyDelete

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