Customer Reviews

God's Favorite: A Novel

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once started, I simply could not put this book down--an intelligent thriller/political satire from someone who writes SO well. Wright spares no one in his telling of the fiasco in Panama and if you aren't compelled after finishing it to read the factual accounts, you clearly didn't read the same book I did. At times appalling and comic, the story and its characters are completely fascinating and heart-breakingly sad. How does George Bush sleep at night?

A novel of the highest order, taking in religion, history, various world views, politics, and cultures while introducing the reader to modern times. Set in Panama in the late '80's it is a bottom's up view of the top of the hierarchy and how the way that world works from both the macro and microscopic view. The bloody view of personal and corrupted power will make the reader wince, laugh out loud, and possibly bring a tear to the eye. We find out how an ugly Mestizo can own a country and as the reader gets into Mr. Noriega's skin to see his view, we find that the writer has a good grasp on the ordinary things that bring meaning to one's life; however it is also the view of a mad man. We are given a look at the USA machinations into that region and the ultimate purposes involving new-old fashion terrorism, narco-terrorism, with a pinch of romance. Often I felt as if I were participating in the movie Casablanca. An enjoyable read from front to back. On the other hand, my wife put the book down after page 10.

An utterly arresting blend of fact and fiction, "God's Favorite" thrusts the reader into the bloody maelstrom of Panama under Noriega. The book is incredibly accessible, even entertaining, but it never loses its intent to put you into the heart of the situation, sparing no one, revealing everything. Of course, one cannot know what a historical figure thinks, believes or desires. Even their own words are tainted by the unswerving gaze of history. Wright, however, does not let his book rest on his assumtions of thoughts and feeling. He brings a trained observers calculated analysis and the well known documented facts of the situation to frame his narrative.

This is a truly delightful experience, crisp in style, engaging in content and memorable in the final experience. Recommended.

The blurring of the line between fact and fiction is so severe, and the exercise of creative liberty so extensive, that any value this book may have potentially had as a source of historical insight is completely lost. Don't get me wrong; it is an often riveting and well-written story from a purely fictional perspective. But I believe the purpose of intertwining fact and fiction is to lend credibility to the fictional component while making the factual component more interesting. In this case, reality is merely a distant backdrop to the fictional story - so distant that I fear I have come away from this book less knowledgeable about the history of Noriega's reign as Panamanian dictator than before simply because - aside from only a handful of tidbits revealed in the author's note - there is no way to discern fact from fiction without conducting my own extensive research on the topic. In the end I don't understand why the author felt it was necessary to engage in such monumental embellishments. The real story seems thrilling and intriguing enough, and I have certainly read enough well-written works of nonfiction in my life to know that it can be done. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if the author had created a completely fictional dictator in a completely fictional setting rather than attempting to drape the story in a thin facade of reality.

Well, I'm sure living through Noriega's rule was not nearly as much fun! A fun voyage combining historical fact with behind-closed-doors fiction, plenty of psychological analysis of a despot that becomes more and more unhnged. You really do feel like you get inside the head of "pineapple face".One of the best of this genre.

This is a spectacular piece of writing by one of America's outstanding political reporters and writers, Lawrence Wright of the New Yorker. One can only marvel at the blind stupidity of the publishing industry insofar as no one has taken this book to paper and marketed the hell out of it!
It is a total gem --- a piece of unparalleled political reporting wrapped into a beautifully written novel that raises all the most basic questions good books like this should raise --- what is good and what is evil in the context of Central American terror and corruption, who is good and who is bad in a maelstrom of American and Israeli buccaneers and corrupt drug lords tied to deadly militarists, is there a God if Noriega lives and thrives while decent idealists are horribly tortured and massacred by his thugs, and what is religion in a place where people interchangeably use the rites of voodoo, buddhism, and catholicism to try to survive. Grim and rasty thriller wrapped in hilarious absurdity and dark broodings, all tied together in sharp easy-read prose. So very very good.

It's devastating that Wright's novel wasn't taken to tradepaper where it would have had a wider readership. This is a terrific thriller so authentic the book speaks directly, clearly and thrillingly. Wright is an execellent writer and this novel is one hell of a fine read. You'll be sorry if you miss it. Wright really has a handle on the reality of certain corrupt Latin politics and he renders it exciting fashion.

I can't fathom why this novel has had so little exposure. His publishers must be short-sighted or loony or both. I wish I had spoken up sooner here with a review since I read the book shortly after it was published. It remains in the top three of best thrillers I've read.

well written and engaging, as it weaves facts with (semi) fiction. as someone from Panama, i have heard unofficial accounts of many of the story lines weaved in the plot,
definatly worth the reading.
geraldine