The Evolution of Shadows [Paperback]

Jason Quinn Malott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 2009

In July of 1995, the news photographer Gray Banick disappeared into the Bosnian war zone and doing so took away pieces of the hearts of three people who loved him: Emil Todorovi , his interpreter and friend; Jack MacKenzie, his mentor who taught Gray to hold his camera steady between himself and the worst that war presents; and Lian Zhao who didn t have the strength to love him as he wanted her to. Now, almost five years later, they have gathered in Sarajevo to find out what happened to Gray, the man who had taught them all what love is. Each driven character in this novel believes fully that there is a love strong enough to sustain them, even in the extreme of circumstances of war. But each time they have uncovered a glimpse of such a thing, they have failed tragically love itself. Or, to see it another way, this is a novel about how love fails us every time or almost every time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Malott follows several characters negotiating the searing and scarring effects of war in his trenchant debut. In 1995, Chinese-American Lian Zhao travels to Sarajevo looking for her lover, Gray Banick, an American journalist who has disappeared. She's helped by Jack MacKenzie, Gray's mentor, and Emil Todorovic, Gray's interpreter. Malott explores each character, opening their lives to expose the wounds the war has inflicted upon them. While the novel does include its share of wrenching battle scenes, its emotional center comes from more nuanced themes: the friendship between Gray, Jack and Emil; Gray and Jack's addiction to war journalism; the hopelessness of Lian's loveless marriage; Jack's nihilistic attitude after being surrounded by death for so long. This could easily have been a clichéd war diary, but Malott avoids the pitfalls of sentimentality, providing a refreshingly clear-eyed evocation of friendship, love and loss. (Oct.)
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Review

Alternating between 1995 and 2000, Malott's first novel concerns a group of journalists covering the Bosnian War who later return to Sarajevo to try to learn what happened to one of their company charismatic photographer Gray Banick, who stared down atrocities through the lens of a camera. Among them are Banick's Bosnian interpreter, Emil Todorovic´, who has suffered a horrific loss at the hands of the Serbs; hard-drinking correspondent Jack MacKenzie, whose addiction to the adrenaline rush of war has cost him his family; and Lian Zhao, a Chinese American woman. Lian had a brief but passionate affair with Banick in Kansas City, which ended when she bowed to the wishes of her traditionalist parents and married another Chinese American. Her feelings stirred again after receiving a letter from Emil asking about Gray, she returns with the others to the village where he was last seen in the hopes of uncovering clues to his fate. VERDICT This is a passionate, wrenching tale of love and war whose tone and subject matter offer an update to Hemingway. --Library Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: Unbridled Books; 1 edition (October 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932961844
• ISBN-13: 978-1932961843
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,463,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Impressively real - I almost forgot it was fiction, August 20, 2010

By 

Sheila A. Dechantal (Brainerd, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Evolution of Shadows (Paperback)

This book read with such reality that I admit I went back and checked to make sure it was fiction. Well written, to the point that it felt so real to me, I entered into this emotionally charged book, unprepared for the emotions it would bring out in me.

The Evolution Of Shadows, while surrounding itself with the story of a war, is more about friendships than bombs. Sure there is the taste of war among the pages and you do feel this, but for me the war was within the three people that longed for answers; Lian, Emil, and Jack. Not sure if they are looking for the man Gray, or the remains of Gray, you feel that each of these characters has a longing and a fear of both.

Beautifully titled, these words "evolution of shadows" comes out of a sleepless night in the book. I love how that was weaved into the words.

Breathtaking and hard to put down, I pushed through the pages wanting to know the answers that each was seeking. What did happen to Gray? Would they ever know? What would they find? What if he is alive, how will they all react? What if they find what they fear the most?

For these answers - you will find not from me..... but from this book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong war drama, November 7, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Evolution of Shadows (Paperback)

In 1995 in Sarajevo, American photographer Gray Banick vanishes. Years later, his former Chinese-American lover Lian Zhao receives a letter from Gray's interpreter Emil Todorovic who worked for the missing photographer asking about him.

Although she married someone more acceptable to her parents, Lian always loved Gray. She leaves Kansas City for Serbia hoping to locate him. In Sarajevo she meets Gray's mentor Jack MacKenzie whose family finally gave up on him when he spent more time in hot spots than at home and Emil. The three begin a quest to learn what happened to Gray.

THE EVOLUTION OF SHADOWS is a strong war drama that makes the case that those who see the horrors of combat even non fighters like reporters need bonds of friendship to emotionally survive; the US Army affirms this premise with buddies being a key element to prevent suicide amidst the troops. Each of the key cast members feel genuine even the missing Gray who is seen mostly though the flashbacks of his compatriots. Jason Quinn Malott provides a powerful character driven tale that avoids turning nostalgic or maudlin.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary writing, February 7, 2010

By 

Sarah Black - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Evolution of Shadows (Paperback)

An outstanding story and really extraordinary writing- I feel changed this morning, after reading this, as if there is a richness and depth in the world I have not seen lately.I loved the story, the characters, the redemption in the ending.

Thanks for sharing this book- fiction used to have the power to change the world, and this book reminded me it still has that power, if enough care is taken.