The Cage

Audrey Schulman

Jim already reviewed this book last month and was kind enough to send it down my way. I can't really add a great deal to what he said and overall I agree with his review. The first half of the book is interesting, but also fails from weakness at times as the author seems determined to add pieces which really don't belong to this particular puzzle and once there, held no weight in meaning. But this is not your 700 page doorstopper either, you can read it in a couple of afternoon sittings, so it's hard to be too fussy about those soft spots. As Jim mentioned, the entire novel is worth reading just to read the last few chapters in which these four people must make their way back to civilization without the benefit of a vehicle to transport them, withstanding temperatures the rest of us cannot even begin to imagine, in a land ripe and teeming with the cunning and fearless Polar Bear. Once they begin this part of their journey, there's no putting this book down until it's done.

I enjoyed this novel overall and would recommend it as a toss into your pile for those times you want something quick, but with a bit of meat to it.