Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey

Parrot and Olivier in AmericaThis is a story of a very unlikely friendship that develops over time. Olivier is the son of French aristocrats in the time of the French  revolution. The descriptions of the country and the times are beautifully written. He is a child of privilege that grows up to be a self centered, and sometimes clueless young man. Parrot is the son of an English printer who is born before the French revolution. He is a man who is full of contradictions who is looking for his place in the world that he inhabits. His world is sometimes  violent and often ruthless yet he finds a way to survive and grow up to be a caring and thoughtful man.
These two, Parrot and Olivier,  are brought together under circumstances that leave a lot to be desired and stretch the imagination.. The interesting part of their story is how they both see the new world of America. One wants to rush in and embrace it but because of his past cannot. The other cannot believe what he has found and fully embraces it. The story is remarkable. Carey fond a way to weave two different views of the same time in history to a story that  makes you care about these two major, and a whole host of minor characters. The descriptions of America are written as vividly as those of France.
There are so many stories told in this book, all of them good. The stories of love that both of the characters find are really good and well told. The stories of power and corruption will have you thinking about power and corruption in 21st century America.
Overall this book is worth reading for the stories that it tells and the way that it tells them. It opens up many avenues for discussion. I read this in my Kindle and could not turn the pages fast enough.