HELPLESS (Barbara Gowdy) - July 12/07

A refreshingly concise, simple book. Though not especially well written, Helpless is entertaining throughout and Gowdy does a nice job of establishing the various characters and the whole kidnapping plot. That the kidnapper is struggling with his impure thoughts was a nice touch, I thought, though it did seem a little ridiculous that the girl would be that naive (slave traders? Really?) The incredibly abrupt ending was a let-down, though; I wanted to have at least a page or two of the reunion between the girl and her mother. *** out of ****