Erste zwei Drittel sind spannend und mitreißend, danach wurde es mir etwas zu fantastisch. ( )

This book tells the story of Ben Willis, a rock musician and amateur pilot known as Superman, who loses his way while flying solo to his next gig in El Paso, Texas. He ends up in South America, on a secluded island, where life as he knows it is slowly dismantled. Meanwhile, his young son begins to piece together his father’s disappearance, and in time goes in search of him. This is typical Childress: multiple viewpoints include a man, a woman and a young adult; music is treated with unusual skill; there’s a nod toward southern small-town life and the wise older woman; a slightly quirky gothic touch is treated with gentle and compassionate humor. On the other hand, Childress’ attempt to add a heavier than usual blast of magical realism didn’t work for me. Without the subtle Latin touch, or the larger dose of thoughtful realism found in his other books, the completely improbable realities of the island come off as fantasy gone ridiculously awry. Nonetheless, Childress succeeds in maintaining his usual swift and entertaining pace, developing some charming minor characters, and producing another story that – with all its flaws – is neither easy to put down nor devoid of laughs. ( )