US writer Andrew Porter's debut novel is a moving portrait of an intensely dysfunctional family.
Set in present day Houston, Texas, it concerns divorced couple Elson and Cadence. He was once one of the city's outstanding architects, but now is falling into the abyss of alcoholism. Meanwhile, his former wife is constantly pained with regret at giving up a promising career to raise her two children.
Their eldest son, Richard, is a gifted poet who is squandering his talents for a menial job in a coffee shop. Daughter Chloe suddenly returns home from her East Coast college after being suspended for an on-campus incident.
As we slowly learn of what happened to Chloe, the quartet of characters see their lives disintegrate further.
Throughout this tale, Porter manages to accurately convey both the fragility and strength of the family unit. While the characters invariably cause each other intense anguish, they are unwittingly tied by inseparable bonds.
Although occasionally the constant sense of unease becomes somewhat repetitive, overall this is an absorbing and suspenseful family drama.
hugoberger@thenational.ae
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Match info
Arsenal 0
Manchester City 2
Sterling (14'), Bernardo Silva (64')
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
