Book cover of The Dark Backward

Book description

William Darnell thought he had seen every kind of human conflict, every type of human tragedy, seen them in all their immense variety: murder done from envy, murder done for revenge, murder done for money, murder done for love, murder done after careful planning, murder done in a moment’s rage.…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Dark Backward as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’m an older reader, and I related to the crusty attorney character, William Darnell.

I also admired the humanizing of an unexpected victim, a primitive boy who is wrongly accused by arrogant US government officials.

Author Buffa has chosen a cultural taboo, rape and incest, and put it into an unexpected light. His modest hero is a senior San Francisco defense attorney, William Darnell. No longer young, Darnell is also in love, and his deep feelings for Dr. Summer Blaine—who is nearly his age—are presented with pure and gentle affection.

I admire the author for questioning assumptions and pushing back…

From Donald's list on modest heroes.

If you love The Dark Backward...

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December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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