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bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
2.0
A colorful tale, full of textured but overly pretentious language. Chabon is able to quickly create the world around you on this Central Asia adventure, but his characters lack much development--another 100 pages of focus on character rather than movement would have accented the action with people the reader really cares about.
At the end of it, I was interested in the cultural landscape but almost apathetic toward the aims and hopes of the characters.
At the end of it, I was interested in the cultural landscape but almost apathetic toward the aims and hopes of the characters.
tropichop's review against another edition
3.0
this one was fine. I found it hard to follow at times but the writing and the characters were cool. Chabon has a way with dialogue and this book was no exception
jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
In general, I've enjoyed the books that I've read by Chabon but this one didn't quite do it for me. Perhaps it is because it was a bit of a departure from his typical style.
devrose's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
This is just not my kind of book. I read it for a book club.
jeremyjfloyd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mrswhite's review against another edition
1.0
...but I never was much of a Kipling fan, come to think of it.
croaker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a magnificently written modern take on the pulp adventure stories from writers like Fritz Leiber and Robert E Howard.
His "pulpy" prose is perfect for capturing that sense of action and adventure you expect from this type of story.
The two main characters are best friends and watching them squabble is hilarious. They are rascals that travel all throughout what today would be eastern Turkey and western Azerbaijan. (the story takes place around 950AD) They spend their days conning people at Taverns and stealing from caravans.
It is too short to risk spoiling the plot with any details about what happens but it is well written and the pacing is fast and exciting.
The action scenes are beautiful, pulpy, affairs that read almost like anime battles.
It is a refreshing take on a very old genre. I highly recommend it.
His "pulpy" prose is perfect for capturing that sense of action and adventure you expect from this type of story.
The two main characters are best friends and watching them squabble is hilarious. They are rascals that travel all throughout what today would be eastern Turkey and western Azerbaijan. (the story takes place around 950AD) They spend their days conning people at Taverns and stealing from caravans.
It is too short to risk spoiling the plot with any details about what happens but it is well written and the pacing is fast and exciting.
The action scenes are beautiful, pulpy, affairs that read almost like anime battles.
It is a refreshing take on a very old genre. I highly recommend it.
chitownbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
aholeistodig's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome. Exciting, confusing, funny. There's a sort of antiquity to it that I think'll probably either delight or annoy, depending on the reader--kind of like Marias' Voyage Along the Horizon. Very much a part of Chabon's move away from the American naturalism of his own earlier works, in favor of the "thrilling tale." He writes in his afterword that he was originally going to call it Jews With Swords.
P.S. If vocab is the sole reason you couldn't get into either this or Yiddish Policemen's Union, you're officially a wuss. They're called context clues, yo.
P.S. If vocab is the sole reason you couldn't get into either this or Yiddish Policemen's Union, you're officially a wuss. They're called context clues, yo.
priya_haha's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0