I've been waiting a long time for Nicholas Evans to release a new novel and finally here it is. The Brave spans three generations as family relationships are shattered and mended in another fine, albiet short example of why Nicholas Evans is such an acclaimed writer.When a novel skips between time-frames with every other chapter I generally get annoyed as ultimately I fall in love with one context or plotline more than the other. In this novel however, I was hooked on what was happening to Tommy as a nine year old just as much as I wanted to know more about his life when 50.
Evans always manages to weave deep and detailed character profiles within his novels and this is no exception, I feel that Evans spends maybe too much time on developing Tommy when his other characters, particularly Diana are so interesting and gripping. Tommy is the protagonist I know, he just didn't interest me as much as Cal or Diana did.
I liked the way this novel was able to incorporate so many themes. Cowboys & Indians, 1960's Hollywood glamour, the horrors of an English boarding school and the atrocities of modern warfare. Each is touched on and intertwined within the main story of love, family and bravery.
The novel has the feeling that a lot more could have been included or drawn out, Evans certainly sums and wraps up nicely, all strings tied, it just didn't have the emotional depth and the ability to make you late for work or miss-that-important-girls-night-out-so-you-can-read-it vibe. When I read The Smoke Jumper, another of Evans's books nothing else mattered except turning the next page. I put The Brave down way too easily.
Still a beautifully written book though.
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