"Garden of Last Days" Explores Days Before 9/11

Andre Dubus III's novel pairs a young stripper and a Sept. 11 terrorist in a small Florida strip club just before the attacks.

Andre Dubus III’s recently published novel explores the days leading up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America through the eyes of intersecting characters, including a lonely old widow, a single mother who strips and a terrorist who watches her in a Florida strip club, enthralled and repulsed by her dancing as he awaits his role in the planned attack.

As the single mother struggles to keep her daughter from witnessing the details of her livelihood in the wake of a marital breakup and the loss of a dependable babysitter –  the lonely old widow who is hospitalized – the terrorist expresses his disgust with America’s questionable morality even as he is unable to avoid its allure.

The book will be reviewed by Stephen King for “Entertainment Weekly” and a cross-country tour is planned, kicking off with an appearance with Magic Johnson.  Dubus’ last book, “The House of Sand and Fog,” was a National Book Award finalist, was named an Oprah Book Club Selection and was made into a movie.

Dubus, assistant professor of English, has published other works, including “The Cage Keeper and Other Stories” and “Bluesman.”

“The Garden of Last Days” is available at amazon.com.