i needed time away between finishing the book and writing this review because i was annoyed at how surprised i was to have found myself enjoying this book as much as i did. why was i surprised? i fell in love with the cover at first sight, after all. surely there was some expectation of at least enjoying it?

the best part of DANIEL BONES is his narrative voice. when certain phrases repeat themselves ("all things being equal," "all things considered,"), i can't resist a chuckle. he parrots things he has heard, which lends to the entire thematic concern of the book, which is, who really is the Fearless Frogman, and how much of Daniel is cap, and how much of the cap is Daniel?

story arc-wise, my favourite one is the span of idyll to tragedy when Daniel was with Andrea, when they went to live with the painter. i consider that Daniel's dark night of the soul. and of course. that scene that had me reeling between him and Andrea cinched the deal for me.

it doesn't come as a surprise to me that my favourite characters are: the widow timmermans, susan the vicar's daughter, and andrea. it does shock me a little bit that i love Daniel and want what is best for him. which is rare. i tend to not like narrators because having spent copious amounts of time with them in their head, immersed in their inner monologue, they tend to get on the nerves. but Daniel is level-headed while still being touched with the sharp edge of the occasional hubris.