false 40372657 369169 5086083 0061239992 9780061239991 34 14 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1227305630m/5086083.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5086083.A_Day_and_a_Night_and_a_Day_A_Novel 37613 3.62 1241 237 4 0 false Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Dec 18 06:55:29 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 18 15:43:58 -0800 2009
"Go out, go out, quite go out."
"The world's not what we thought it was, the world's what it's always been."
"Either God speaks continuously or is nothing but silence."

Ever wondered where God was when you needed him most? Ever call out for a sign, any sign, that he was there, and paying attention? Ever promise to believe in him should he let you know he was there?

Glen Duncan does an amazing job addressing religion, a recurring theme for him, in his latest novel. Our tormented, tortured Augustus has been arrested for terrorism and locked in a torture chamber by Harper. Harper wants names, and Augustus is not going to give them over easily.

Sparing us the bloody, gory torture techniques, Duncan skillfully whisks us away into Augustus's past and future as he prepares his body for the forthcoming brutality and suffers at the hands of Harper and his guards. We are thrust into NYC where he reminisces about Selina - his one true, passionate love - and the events that led up to his capture.

Meanwhile, in between torture sessions, we return to see Harper striking up conversations with Augustus, allowing him time to heal and rest before starting up again. In these painfully tense moments, Augustus reflects on God - the fact that he no longer has religion, does not expect divine intervention, and is actually preparing himself for death.

He and Harper develop a relationship, similar to that of a kidnapped person to their kidnapper: a sick needy dependance. The urge to keep them talking, to distract them, to engage them, to keep them from wanting to hurt you further.

Does Augustus have the information Harper is looking for? Will he eventually find God? Will he succum to the torture of a day and a night and a day, or will he survive to live out his life?

There is only one way to find out.

]]>