Gods Without Men

BOOK: Gods Without Men

AUTHOR: Hari Kunzru

GRADE: D

I almost don’t even know where to begin with this book review; mostly because even after completing Gods Without Men, I’m still not entirely sure what it’s about. As far as I can tell, it is (at its most basic level) the story of Jaz and Lisa Matharu and their autistic son Raj. After suffering through all the typical calamities that accompany a child with such a disability, Jaz and Lisa take their son to the desert for a vacation. What they encounter there is beyond comprehension. Literally.

There they come across the compound of an other-worldly cult – led by a shape shifting/cosmically powered coyote. Their son goes missing. Then returns seemingly unharmed – but changed by his encounter with this other world. His unexplainable change drives Jaz and Lisa’s marriage apart and, in the end, they cannot reconcile their differing views in time to save their marriage.

Hari Kunzru works in class struggle, racism, mystical seeking and a down and out celeb sighting. But, all of this simply serves to fill pages without really adding anything worthwhile. Gods Without Men made the NY Times Bestseller list, so perhaps I’m missing something. But for me, this was a tedious and unrewarding read. I cannot recommend it in good conscience.