Ward Just, Forgetfulness

I just found out that Ward Just has a new novel out, Forgetfulness. I hadn't heard a bit of advance word about it, making me rather surprised to see it on the shelf at Brent Books here in Chicago. The Tribune is apparently asleep at the switch, once again, but the book gets strong reviews in the Sun-Times and even in the September issue of BookPage (not yet online now online here). Here's what the former review, by Mark Athitakis, had to say:

Forgetfulness has a persistently melancholy mood, but it never bogs down -- it has a sturdy, propulsive feel that stems from Just's willingness to address Thomas' grief head-on. And in the process of exploring Thomas' sadness and confusion so closely, he's a powerful allegory for the larger disorientation of these violent, terror-stricken times.

The book sounds intriguing, and I'm pleased to see Just confront the subject of terrorism by having a middle-aged protagonist experience it directly and react to it--badly or otherwise. And not by invoking "you are there in Lower Manhattan on 9/11" pathos or, even worse, with a middle-aged upper-class white guy novelist presumptuously and vainly trying to assume the voice of a teenaged Muslim extremist (looking at you, J.U.). I thoroughly enjoyed Just's last book, An Unfinished Season, and I'm really looking forward to the new one.