Someone vital and important to you has died. Sitting in a room accepting condolences from neighbors, friends and family the world seems so unreal. You're busy with death and the after effects. The shiva calls end or the wake is over and everyone goes home. Looking out the window the world has gone on. Children play games with their friends. Husbands and wives go to work, eat dinner, lay down with one another. But you just sit and wonder how can life go on without the one you love?
One year after the death of their only son Leo, a reporter in Iraq who was kidnapped and murdered while on assignment, Marilyn and David Frankel request the presence of their adult daughters and Leo's widow and young son at a ceremony to remember Leo. Each character is dealing not only with the loss of Leo, but with personal and familial difficutlies (infertility, mistimed love, moving on, marital strife, etc.)
At it's essence this book is about family. Yes, there is a political bent, but that's life - No? Yes, it does feel as though Joshua Henkin has included a political perspective regarding the war in Iraq. Is this his perspective or is it the perspective of the characters? His characters were so perfectly written it would be impossible to believe that they felt otherwise.
Is Mr. Henkin permitted to express views that might be in opposition to others? You bet. That is the beauty free speach.
What is important about The World Without You is the truth of the family. Joshua Henkin has written the characters in such a clear manner that I felt that I knew them -they were my neighbors, my friends, my classmates. I couldn't put the book down, and didn't want it to end. Very rarely is that the case.
Others have stated that not much happens in the book, but I disagree. There aren't car chases or murders, but life happens and goes on even when you don't particullarly want it to.