Osman Shah, the protagonist of Naben Ruthnum’s delightfully dark new novel “A Hero Of Our Time,” should probably be pretty happy with his life. Rendered in a first person point of view, the reader will often find themselves uncomfortable in Osman’s skin, immersed in his self-disgust. Osman takes it as a quest to destroy Olivia, and draws Nena into his plan, nebulous though it may be, at first. As it shifts from satire to emotional acuity, “A Hero of Our Time” becomes a genuinely surprising novel at both narrative and thematic levels, with unforeseen twists leading to unanticipated emotional developments and revelations. It’s a powerful, unexpected reading experience.

Source: thestar January 11, 2022 10:03 UTC