I was intrigued when I heard about this novel, because I recognized the main character immediately as being inspired by Clark Rockefeller, the man who created a new identity with himself, aligning himself with a well known and wealthy American family, and who also kidnapped his own child. But that seems t be where the similarities end. "Clark" (aka Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, his real name) is currently on trial for murder as well. Ms. Gaige seems to have taken a seed of an idea and has grown a whole new plant from it.

Erik Schroder is German citizen who managed to escape East Germany with his father as a child (without his mother) and who adapts to his new surroundings in Dorcherster, Massachusetts, by changing his name, and in time, his identity. His father does not know this. He becomes Eric Kennedy, and invents a new back story about who he is. He learns to speak perfect American English, receives an outstanding American education and basically manages to create a life that fits the American Dream, for a time.

The writing in this novel is pretty amazing. I had such mixed feelings about Eric, but by the end of the book, if I didn't love him, I certainly had grown to understand him. Ms Gage does such a wonderful job with the writing, and has an amazing way with a phrase:
"My heart flipped. How abandonable a child is."
"Because, of course, there is one thing that really deranges us, and that is the disappearance of love."
"The soul keeps the body up." (Meadow)
There are more, but I don't want to give them all away because when you comes across the gems while reading, they can move you to tears with their truthfulness.

Eric waxes philosophically about his "research" on pauses, silences and loneliness. In the end, whether the reader likes this character, whoever he is, we learn he suffers from a profoundly damaged heart. He makes a very bad decision, possibly caused by the damage done to Eric himself in his earlier years, but it is not made in a malicious way, but from a desperate place of pain and need. Yes, he is selfish. But when it comes to the love most of us feel for our children, it is understandable.

I loved this novel. It's been a good reading year so far!