Waiting for Eden: A novel

Elliot Ackerman’s novel Waiting for Eden possessed a rare level of catharsis which left me feeling incredibly spent. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t add that I found it a bit exaggerated. Ackerman holds his own as a storyteller, but much of the story was too over-the-top for my taste. The author’s talents are undeniable, but his strengths lie in short story writing.

Waiting for Eden felt more like a run-away short story than a novel. I don’t doubt that many readers will enjoy books like this—books that make them feel intense emotions, which ordinary life fails to provide. I, however, read for different reasons. Ackerman’s novel earns three stars from me; I would recommend it to people who read for entertainment purposes, but I would not recommend it to die-hard literary intellectuals.

Waiting for Eden would make an excellent beach read if the beach were an appropriate place for an emotional purge. I prefer to experience my emotional cleansings in the privacy of my home. Save this novel for a dreary, stormy evening.