I read this because I loved another of this author's books, The Commoner. However, this was not nearly as good. At one point I almost stopped reading it, but I will admit that I'm glad that I kept on reading to the end. Somehow this almost seemed like a bunch of linked short stories. One chapter did not flow well into the next. Also, the main character, Alec, was not entirely likeable. His treatment of women was appalling at most times although he did show flashes of empathy at others. He was a difficult character to figure out. I liked the parts where he was trying to adjust to a different culture. I imagine it would be very difficult to survive in Japan, or in many other cultures, without making some terrible mistakes in human interactions. Interspersed with Alec's present (1989) life are memories of a sometimes difficult childhood and of a relationship with his older brother, Mark, that was sadly distant and often fraught with jealousy. Not a terrible book, but there are much better ones out there.
