The irony being, of course, that the US is no longer the country the rest of the world wants to come to but the place everybody wants to leave. Set against this broader geopolitical scenario, the Mandibles family are a synecdoche through which the ramifications of events can be explored at the individual level. THE MANDIBLESLionel ShriverBorough Press/HarperCollinsBy CUSHLA MCKINNEYOne of Lionel Shriver's defining characteristics as an author is her willingness to confront topical and divisive issues. It opens in a near-future America that has defaulted on its debts, renationalised all gold (including jewellery), and made holding or trading in international currency illegal. Meanwhile Carter's children, who resemble the three princes so frequently encountered in fairy tales, have made their own way in the world.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 07, 2016 18:11 UTC