A Partial History of Lost Causes    by Jennifer Dubois Order:  USA  Can Dial, 2012 (2012) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens A letter written by a man dying of Huntington's disease to the world champion Russian player Alexander Bezetov forms the basis of this novel's plot. As a young girl, Irina is exposed to her father's love of chess, and after his death she finds a copy of the letter and is so curious to know the answer to the question her father posed that she travels to Russia to confront Bezetov personally. She finds him in the midst of a hopeless presidential campaign against Vladimir Putin. And as we discover why he is making this attempt, we also learn about Russia as it slowly emerged from the Communist era, with the corresponding glacial changes in social and political mores. Jennifer Dubois has written a fascinating novel. Her vividly drawn characters and the sureness with which she unfolds the story of two strangers whose lives briefly come together are quite satisfying. For a unique but thorough look at recent Russian history, chess and the slow, sad depredations of Huntington's disease, this work is highly recommended. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews