Review: The Damage Done by Michael Landweber

The Damage Done

by Michael Landweber

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Imagine a world devoid of violence—a world where fists can’t hit, guns don’t kill, and bombs can’t destroy. In this tantalizing novel of possibility, this has become our new reality.

The U.S. president must find a new way to wage war. The Pope ponders whether the Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Kill” is still relevant. A dictator takes his own life after realizing that the violence he used to control his people is no longer an option.

In the first days after the change, seven people who have experienced violence struggle to adapt to this radical new paradigm: Dab, a bullied middle schooler; Marcus, a high school student whose brother is the last victim of gun violence in America; Ann, a social worker stuck in an abusive marriage; Richard, a professor whose past makes him expect the worst inthe present; Gabriela, who is making a dangerous border crossing into the U.S.; the Empty Shell, a dissident writer waiting to be tortured in a notorious prison; and Julien, a white supremacist plotting a horrific massacre.

As their fates intertwine, the things each of the seven experience become emblematic of the promise and perils of the new world. The future holds bright new possibilities for ending terrorism, racism, and even hatred itself. But although violence is no longer possible, that doesn’t mean that some among us won’t keep trying. Mindless cruelty is still alive and well—and those bent on destruction will seek the most devious means to achieve it. 

Kritters Thoughts:  A story of seven people and how each of them were impacted by a world devoid of violence.  Told in almost short story form as the author moves from one character to another and shows both the positive and negative side to a world where violence is gone.  From a bullied middle schooler to a social worker in an abusive relationship, each person wonders how long the world will be this way.

I went into this book with some definite thoughts and they were flipped upside down while reading.  I couldn't think of one reason why a world without violence wouldn't be a good thing, but this book really challenged my thoughts while reading.  

I had a favorite and a least favorite storyline.  To start negative and end on the positive - my least favorite was The Empty Shell.  I just couldn't connect with this character and couldn't care about his reaction to this new world.  My favorite was Ann and what an impact that the world without violence had on both her personal and professional life and I liked seeing how she had to react to this change in both places.  

Without spoiling anything, the thing I loved most about the book was the subtle connections from character to character or story to story.  Even until the end, it was fun to see how it was very much six degrees of separation and how the characters would show up within each other's stories.  

My first Michael Landweber book and I want to look into his backlist to see what else he has to read!

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from JH Public Relations.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.