Pay It Forward

By R.Z. Sheppard

The premise of this would-be son of Forrest Gump is an idealistic Ponzi scheme. The receiver of a good deed must do good deeds for three other people. They, in turn, must benefit a total of nine. Before long, millions are doing unto others, assuming Saddam Hussein and his like are kept out of the loop. It's an appealing idea but--sorry to be a meanie--seriously stunted. Hyde tells far more than she shows. A plodding love affair, tinny dialogue and awkward symbolism don't help. It's as if the novelist had ceded her imagination to the filmmakers who have already optioned this book.

--By R.Z. Sheppard