Unknown Destination

By Maya Rasker

In the realization that my language is powerless to describe what has happened in the seven years since I first met her, I am compelled to recount the story of my wife, the beautiful Raya Mira... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345446763
• ISBN13: 9780345446763
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.7" x 0.9" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Hard But Rewarding

Maya Rasker's book is a hard read. Tackling this incredibly difficult subject matter is brave territory which Rasker handles with candor and an icy eye cast with a decidedly European perspective. The language of the English translation from the original Dutch flows well. The flashback construction of the novel works fairly well with obvious gaps of information that Rasker dangles before the reader only to unfold them at precisely the right moment. Perhaps because of the translation or the European perspective, the main character Gideon is one whose emotions we observe, sympathize with, but somehow experience from a distance. The premise of the book begins with a man incredibly in love with his wife, Raya Mira, dealing with her disappearance by delving deeply into work projects and remembering the past. Only the reversal at the end unifies this novel, explaining the seemingly unusual perspective of the main character throughout. Rasker examines closely our roles as lover, husband, wife, father and mother; how one gives birth to the next and causes death to the former. Gideon's learned love for his daughter Lizzy and his enjoyment of the role of fatherhood is the warmth in this otherwise chilly tale. This is a novel for the brave of heart, told well, but a difficult tale to tell. It will challenge you.