Stills

A great novel could surely be written about the risks taken by photojournalists pursuing their craft during wartime, but Hazo has not written it. His prose style is a perfect example of portentousness masquerading as profundity. His descriptions and analyses of Lebanon--where much of the novel takes place--are superficial, and the plot is negligible. Bede Baxter is an American photographer missing in Lebanon, presumed dead. He becomes the subject of a memorial documentary by Louise, who promptly falls in love with him, only to have him resurface unexpectedly--providing the novel with a few grains of emotional grist. Bede's first wife, Mercedes, has been conveniently killed in Lebanon, while Louise's ex--a sportswear salesman--pops up every so often to give the story a twist. The stage is set for Bede and Louise's courtship, in which they display as much passion as a couple of tripods. Spliced into the story at irregular intervals is an inexplicable account of a trombone-toting terrorist lurking in an airport. Dreary stretches of tape-recorded narrative, murky criticisms of U.S. foreign policy and soulful chit-chat about art don't build narrative momentum. (June)