Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Eternity's Grasp offers a hard-hitting examination of one individual's dark and violent impulses. The author immerses readers in the story of Paul Pasternak, a serial killer who primarily isolates himself from the outside world, until he meets a young English professor. When she's murdered, readers will grapple with the question of whether Paul is responsible. 

Prose: Rembis writes chillingly about Paul, his urges, and murderous actions. The novel's tone is both sardonic and matter-of-fact, which allows the circumstances unfolding to be particularly unsettling. 

Originality: Rembis hatches an original concept: what is a serial killer to do when someone he is close to is killed by someone else?

Character/Execution: The author achieves a unique feat in creating Paul. While his thoughts and behaviors are deeply sinister, he nevertheless emerges as somewhat sympathetic. The juxtaposition of the mundane and the horrific, keeps readers on edge and invested in the complex storytelling. 

Date Submitted: August 14, 2023