Γκρίνουϊτς

by Howard Fast, Μαρία-Ρόζα Τραϊκόγλου (Translator)

Στο αριστοκρατικό Γκρίνουιτς του Κονέτικατ, τόπο κατοικίας των πλούσιων και εκλεπτυσμένων της αμερικανικής ελίτ, οχτώ άνθρωποι συγκεντρώνονται για δείπνο στο σπίτι του Ρίτσαρντ Κασλ και μια ιστορία απάτης, απιστίας και εγκλήματος αρχίζει να ξετυλίγεται…

Ο οικοδεσπότης τους, πρώην υφυπουργός Εξωτερικών, αρμόδιος για τις υποθέσεις της Λατινικής Αμερικής, ζει σιωπηρά την πιο δύσκολη ώρα της ζωής του. Το 1980 επέτρεψε –αν όχι καθοδήγησε– τις δολοφονίες τριών Καθολικών μοναχών και μιας εθελόντριας στο Ελ Σαλβαδόρ. Τώρα, κάποιοι σκαλίζουν την παλιά αυτή ιστορία, κι ο Κασλ ίσως κληθεί να καταθέσει ενώπιον του Κογκρέσου. Δεν ξέρει ακόμη πώς σκοπεύουν να αντιδράσουν οι πρώην συνεργάτες και συνένοχοί του, αλλά γνωρίζει καλά με ποιο τρόπο εξασφαλίζουν συνήθως τη σιωπή...

Γύρω του, στο τραπέζι, κάθονται η νεαρή σύζυγός του, ένας καθολικός ιερέας και μια μοναχή, ένας καθηγητής γλωσσολογίας με τη σύζυγό του,ένας επιτυχημένος συγγραφέας και μια γυναίκα που ίσως να είναι ερωμένη του.

Ανυποψίαστοι για το δράμα που παίζεται δίπλα τους, κουβαλάει ο καθένας τους τη δική του κρυφή και απρόβλεπτη ιστορία. Διασταυρώνοντας αριστοτεχνικά τις διαδρομές αυτών των ανθρώπων, ο αξεπέραστος Howard Fast συνθέτει ένα πορτραίτο αλαζονείας και αθωότητας, βιαιότητας και συμπόνιας στην Αμερική τού σήμερα, απεικονίζοντας με τρόπο μοναδικό την αλληλεξάρτηση της ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης, την ενοχή και το αέναο έργο της κάθαρσης.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Howard Fast was one of the most prolific American writers of the twentieth century. He was a bestselling author of more than eighty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays. The son of immigrants, Fast grew up in New York City and published his first novel upon finishing high school in 1933. In 1950, his refusal to provide the United States Congress with a list of possible Communist associates earned him a three-month prison sentence. During his incarceration, Fast wrote one of his best-known novels, Spartacus (1951). Throughout his long career, Fast matched his commitment to championing social justice in his writing with a deft, lively storytelling style.

Pseudonyms: Walter Ericson, E.V. Cunningham

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting character study, but even more interesting was the way the author wove his storyline through a manuscript written by one of the characters - Harold Sellig; and how, absurdly, the novel's hometown of Greenwich came to epitomize the 'collective guilt' theory put forth by Harold, and duly debated throughout the story.

[Lareesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page turner! Suspenseful and surprising. I kind of want to read it again because I buzzed through it SO FAST to see what happened at the end I feel I missed some of Fast's subtle and not-so-subtle points made about collective guilt. When two characters were having extensive dialogue about collective guilt and the Holocaust, I really just wanted to find out whether Larry was going to kill Richard or when Dickey was going to get out of jail. Knowing what happens already would let me delve into those deeper questions he littered throughout the book and how they connect to the story.

[Willie Kirschner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine Fast

I have long been a fan of this amazing writer and thoroughly enjoy reading his books, as well as his humanism and politics. This is an interesting story which has an interesting placement in our history.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Fast, always a favorite author. Does not disappoint.

[Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explores collective guilt. Yeah we’re guilty alright. And nothing is going to save the earth now.

[Midge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good rich people drama set in Connecticut upscale area. Also a murder but the killer is not withheld so no mystery there.

[Laura Talley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this author could rewrite a phone book and I would want to read it and be captured from A to Z. Good story but the writing is superb

[Amalia Wompa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting how quickly my mind processed this book. I don't know if that makes sense at all. For example, some authors try to pack meaning into every word to the point where reading is no longer a relaxing hobby. In other words, this book was relaxing because you could tell Fast wrote it in a burst of motivation that perhaps had no meaning at all. It ended a little abrupt with only an inferred ending, but that's what made it so good. If it went on for any longer I don't know if I would've enjoyed it as much. I also loved the character building here- and how some people existed just to exist in the greater purpose of the book however they had no contact with the others. It's interesting finding books like that because they remind you of how life is supposed to feel.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was actively overwhelmed by how bad this book was. I'm one to read a lot of terrible books in the name of "beach reading" or "killing time in an airport", but sitting in the sand did not salvage this book.

I was let down by how bad the writing was - did his editor even notice that he was explaining the same things the same ways? And no, I do not think this was a stylistic choice - I think it was bad writing/bad editing.

I was hoping for a chuckle at the expense of my ridiculous hometown, and instead it just all felt like a waste of time.

[Lynn Shreve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remembered enjoying a previous read by Fast but not remembering 'why'. This book reminded me. Although many in number, his characters are richly complex yet easy to get to know. Dealing with human nature, social justice, religion, and death in a refined gossipy-kind of way. Will be picking up more of his books.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Howard Fast. (I read April Morning and Freedom Road in high school.) There's a lot unresolved in this book (on purpose I believe), but I think it's ripe as a book club book. Lots of themes available for discussion.

[Kala · Rating 2 out of 5]

The books itself is pretty good. Overall theme I would give 4 stars but I felt the story was lacking. It was good and captivating up until halfway and then it just stalled with a boring ending. Could of been better.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Fast always spins a good tale. The over riding theme, collective guilt and the sin of indifference was a little heavy handed.

[Nan Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read LOTS of Howard Fast years and years ago and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collective guilt