The Keep - Jennifer Egan

This books starts out as the story of two cousins who share a tragic childhood secret. Years later, Howard is rich and successful and renovating a castle in Eastern Europe. He invites the ne'er do well Danny out to help with the project. Several chapters later you learn that the Howard/Danny story is actually the creation of Ray, an inmate in a maxium-security prison. The chapters go back and forth between the two stories until eventually they intertwine. As Danny stays longer in the castle, he begins to unravel some of its secrets and to suspect that his stay is not as voluntary as he would have liked to believe. This book is somewhat of a gothic psychological mind-bender. The writing, however, is modern, with the author taking asides to talk to the reader. Ultimately, I found the scene transitions too abrupt - every time I got into the rhythym of one story or character, it would suddenly change. Great concept, questionable execution.