THE ODDS (Stewart O'Nan) - March 5/12

This typically uneven book by O'Nan certainly has a number of engrossing stretches and it's hard to recall a story featuring two equally memorable characters, but the novel is often bogged down in descriptions and flowery passages that feel kind of meaningless. And while the final few pages are admittedly quite exciting, the anticlimactic resolution feels a little disappointing and vague (ie they're staying together because they won? What about all their problems and the impending divorce?) It would've been nice if O'Nan had fleshed out some of the smaller details, but still, it's a quick, truthful read. (And surprisingly depressing in stretches, too.) *** out of ****