The Unwilling is a story of a family broken by the Vietnam War. It's also a story of a serial killer who reminded me of Hannibal Lector. The French family has one son killed in Vietnam and another irrevocably changed. The third, Gibby, is the good son, a senior in high school. Gibby is the most completely drawn character in this novel. Other characters are more types than fully realized. The action in the book kept me reading, along with the surprising plot twists.
I enjoyed the read, but I wished that Gibby's parents, particularly his mother, had been more than cardboard cutouts, reacting always in predictable ways. With fuller character development, I would have given this book 4 stars.
I enjoyed the read, but I wished that Gibby's parents, particularly his mother, had been more than cardboard cutouts, reacting always in predictable ways. With fuller character development, I would have given this book 4 stars.