Ben's review of The Echo Maker: A Novel
The Echo Maker: A Novel by Richard Powers
Plot and formula won out over characters in this Powers effort. Although the description sounds quite intriguing, the execution was flat and undeveloped. To me, it seems as if Powers stumbled upon this concept of the Capgras Syndrome and decided to write about it. How interesting that a person could have this focused paranoia, where he believes everything in the world save one person or thing, whom he believes to be an impostor? Now, to write the book, it seems that Powers researched the disorder and to prove it, he incarnated his research in Dr. Weber, a neuroscientist.
It is apparent that Powers puts a solid amount of effort into the ideas and flirts with some of the philosophical questions, but I find the characters to be nearly one-dimensional. The sister shows signs of exasperation, but plods forward as if her choices have already been made. Semblance of regret seems unbelievable. Likewise, Weber and Mark go through the motions of the people they inhabit. The peripheral...more
It is apparent that Powers puts a solid amount of effort into the ideas and flirts with some of the philosophical questions, but I find the characters to be nearly one-dimensional. The sister shows signs of exasperation, but plods forward as if her choices have already been made. Semblance of regret seems unbelievable. Likewise, Weber and Mark go through the motions of the people they inhabit. The peripheral...more
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