The Emperor's Children

Author: Claire Messud

Summary: The action centers around the lives of three former college classmates living in New York City: Marina, a floundering author with a very famous father, Danielle, a documentary filmmaker, and Julian, a cash-strapped critic who often works as a temp to make ends meet. Not much happens as the novel follows the characters for about a year. The events of September 11th play a major role in the novel.

Recommendation: Messud uses beautiful language, but it can't make up for the fact that hardly anything interesting happens in almost 450 pages. Certainly, there are plot events designed to shock or sadden or provoke thought, but since none of the main characters are particularly likable, I found myself detached from the plot. The inside cover promised that something "shocking" happens when Marina's cousin Bootie comes to town, so I kept reading in hopes of an interesting twist, but it never came.

Hearts: 1