The Fox by Frederick Forsyth

THE FOX is the latest espionage thriller by Frederick Forsyth whose best sellers (including The Day of the Jackal) have sold more than 70 million copies worldwide. In this novel, Forsyth introduces a British teen on the autism spectrum, Luke Jennings, who is able to work around firewalls and protocols that stump experts in the field of cyberterrorism.  Gradually, a relationship develops and is managed by a former UK spy with Luke (code name: The Fox) ultimately cooperating with Western powers to have an impact on the weapon systems of countries like Russia, Iran, and North Korea. In the process, Luke’s life and that of his family come under threat.  

It is difficult for me to make a full comparison to earlier works by Forsyth, but this one kept my interest, particularly due to its contemporary setting, and should satisfy his loyal readers as well as newer ones like many of our students. Throughout Forsyth wryly comments on international relationships as shown by a couple of quick quotes: “The logical are always frightened of the insane” (referring to tension between North Korea and the United States) and, regarding past espionage adventures: “There is a moment to stay put and a moment to move.  Pick the right one and you will see old age.” THE FOX received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Silent Hearts by Gwen Florio

Set mostly in the early 2000s and post 9/11, SILENT HEARTS by Gwen Florio is a recently published novel that explores parallels and contrasts through the intertwined lives of two women. Liv is an American expatriate in Afghanistan with her professor husband and Farida is an educated Pakistani who is newly married to the son of an Afghan businessman whose trade involves drugs and guns. Yes, despite clear differences, both women are often defined by their husbands’ roles and impacted by the men’s emotions: “Liv thought of her life in the sheltered embrace of the college campus, first as a student, then a researcher and Martin’s wife. Of the things in that universe that depended upon the whims of men. A door held open for her, or not. A date. A promotion. In this world [Afghanistan] a woman’s very life could turn on whether a man had had a bad day.”

With Farida acting as translator, Liv interviews Afghani women about their life experiences, preparing reports for an NGO named Face the Future. Both Farida and Liv display resilience and develop a mutual regard for each other, even bonding over Alice and Wonderland, the story of “a girl whose curiosity led her to ever-stranger places, who did her best to adjust to incomprehensible circumstances, but who inevitable called stupidity what it was.” Gwen Florio is a prize-winning journalist who has reported from Afghanistan and she movingly conveys the difficulties and dangers there as well as explaining cultural and religious differences. SILENT HEARTS received a starred review from Library Journal, has a helpful discussion guide here, and is definitely recommended for book group discussions.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy which was provided in exchange for this honest review.