Generosity An Enhancement

So far I have only read three novels by Richard Powers. Out of those "Generosity" possibly even is the weakest one - and it is a great novel! Obviously Powers tries to give his works a sense of thrill, but his repect for his characters' humanity is always more important to him. Thassa, an Algerian refugee in Chicago, is very happy - so happy that protatgonist Russell Stone, who meets her at a writing class he teaches, tries to find out what is medically wrong with her. It seems hard to make Thassa a vivid figure instead of just a blueprint, but Powers treats her like any other character - with respect but also expectations. Obviously Russell and Candace, a college counselor and his partner-to-be, have good intentions when they change Thassa's life - and that makes it all the more threating. But Powers offers them his protection as well - he does not believe in evil but in humanity in all its good and bad aspects. And that is exactly why he so urgently needs to be read!