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ianthereader's review against another edition
4.0
4.5⭐️
Featured in my Blind Date with a Book Reading Vlog:
https://youtu.be/0qnmWKYZois
Featured in my Blind Date with a Book Reading Vlog:
https://youtu.be/0qnmWKYZois
ashsara's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
melanie_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Rather disappointing for such a great premise. But it raises some great questions - who is the artist that perseveres even without an audience? Even when no audience is possible. The last chapter really redeems this book and helps to answer that question.
ms_sarah621's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bmont0044's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 - interesting and thought provoking. Didn't quite grasp the ending but thoroughly enjoyable
radballen's review against another edition
4.0
Good advance reviews and a Facebook friend's recommendation convinced me to read this book (thanks, John!). I generally hesitate to read fiction that deals with music; it generally just doesn't ring true to me for some reason. This book, however, captures what's great about creativity and dips into music culture in a way that feels genuine and knowledgeable about the music itself. The basic premise of the book is discussed elsewhere by more articulate reviews than me, but I love the idea of a character who creates his own musical world unencumbered by having to engage with the outside world's reaction to it. Denise's revealing of Nik's Chronicles opens up a fascinating self-created music world.
I can't say enough good things about this short book. I devoured it in two days. It's definitely worth checking out.
I can't say enough good things about this short book. I devoured it in two days. It's definitely worth checking out.
librarimans's review against another edition
3.0
Well written, interesting concept, but the end was less than stellar.
eleong's review against another edition
4.0
This novel unfolds in such a moving way. Spiotta captures the deep bond between siblings in a way that is nakedly truthful and while complex, simple at its core.
areaxbiologist's review against another edition
4.0
I read Dana Spiotta's Eat the Document in a high school book club. There's even photos in the yearbook of the 4 of us reading it. Maybe my memory of reading the book is replaced by the photo. That's what Spiotta's narrator, Denise, would say in Stone Arabia. Denise is the true underdog in a story reminiscent to me of Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad. Spiotta's novel being the tragic bootleg version. The title, for me, describes the quintessential violent feeling of memory, almost-memory and the incredible pressure in "making memories". This latter activity is Denises's brother's specialty. Nik is too cool for any school of rock or thought. He misquotes at will (look for the quote attributed to Gloria Steinem) and makes progress without profit. He is the locus for all the imaginative powers of the reader. Denise takes all the punches and Nik gets the glory.
The structure, like Goon Squad, is new and startling. We're talking messed-up chronology (not all the way through, only enough to let us know not to get our hopes up about Denise). There's redaction - even to the point of redacted structure (Denise doesn't want it to be a diary). The novel, even at this level, is driven forward (and backward?) by Denise's unwillingness to be a slave to memory. There's also exerpts from Nik's Chronology, and scripts from Ada's (Denise's daughter's) film. Reading Stone Arabia is a mimesis of Denise's reading of web sites, media and her own perusal of her memories. It's startling when Denise is referred to by name, perhaps because of her imprint on all the facets of the novel.
In honor of Nik and his Chronicles, I'll distill my review into a faux-Chronicle exerpt (see Stone Arabia, pages 42-3):
I'M WITH STONE ARABIA
The Back Page Vital Stats
Stephanie Miller tells us her opinions and observations
Title: Stone Arabia
Author: Dana Spiotta
Length: 233 pages
Published: July 2011
Cover: Red, meant to look like a faux Chronicle. Notice that Dana Spiotta's name is copyrighted. Best joke of the book.
Themes: Loss, memory (see previous theme), aphasia, debtedness, media-dependency, ego-tripping.
Settings: L.A., web-sites, TV, punk/glitter/glam scene, stuck in traffic.
Strengths: Nik's Chronicles, Denise's memories of childhood, Denise's dates with Jay.
Weaknesses: Nik's fake letter (supposedly written by Denise), the visit to Stone Arabia and Ada.
Best Minor Character: Tommy Skate
Best Moments: Jayne Mansfield, James Woods, Wilton's Birthday Cakes, SARS.
Worst: grocery store, pills, WIC.
Overall Grade: B+
You should read it - not just because Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) blurbs it. It's a wake-up call to those of us in limbo about cutting the mult-media ties that shouldn't bind memory to mind.
The structure, like Goon Squad, is new and startling. We're talking messed-up chronology (not all the way through, only enough to let us know not to get our hopes up about Denise). There's redaction - even to the point of redacted structure (Denise doesn't want it to be a diary). The novel, even at this level, is driven forward (and backward?) by Denise's unwillingness to be a slave to memory. There's also exerpts from Nik's Chronology, and scripts from Ada's (Denise's daughter's) film. Reading Stone Arabia is a mimesis of Denise's reading of web sites, media and her own perusal of her memories. It's startling when Denise is referred to by name, perhaps because of her imprint on all the facets of the novel.
In honor of Nik and his Chronicles, I'll distill my review into a faux-Chronicle exerpt (see Stone Arabia, pages 42-3):
I'M WITH STONE ARABIA
The Back Page Vital Stats
Stephanie Miller tells us her opinions and observations
Title: Stone Arabia
Author: Dana Spiotta
Length: 233 pages
Published: July 2011
Cover: Red, meant to look like a faux Chronicle. Notice that Dana Spiotta's name is copyrighted. Best joke of the book.
Themes: Loss, memory (see previous theme), aphasia, debtedness, media-dependency, ego-tripping.
Settings: L.A., web-sites, TV, punk/glitter/glam scene, stuck in traffic.
Strengths: Nik's Chronicles, Denise's memories of childhood, Denise's dates with Jay.
Weaknesses: Nik's fake letter (supposedly written by Denise), the visit to Stone Arabia and Ada.
Best Minor Character: Tommy Skate
Best Moments: Jayne Mansfield, James Woods, Wilton's Birthday Cakes, SARS.
Worst: grocery store, pills, WIC.
Overall Grade: B+
You should read it - not just because Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) blurbs it. It's a wake-up call to those of us in limbo about cutting the mult-media ties that shouldn't bind memory to mind.
drewsof's review against another edition
3.0
Another Biblioracle recommendation - but this one falls a bit short of the mark.
Certainly engaged me, premise-wise, and I found Nik's Chronicles to be one of the most interesting and original literary creations of recent memory... but there wasn't enough. This whole book feels so slight, so much like a missed opportunity, that I can actually say I was let down by it. It promised so much and the inherent ability seems to be there... but it just never takes flight like you want it to. A shame, really.
More disappointed ramblings at Raging Biblioholism: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-hf
Certainly engaged me, premise-wise, and I found Nik's Chronicles to be one of the most interesting and original literary creations of recent memory... but there wasn't enough. This whole book feels so slight, so much like a missed opportunity, that I can actually say I was let down by it. It promised so much and the inherent ability seems to be there... but it just never takes flight like you want it to. A shame, really.
More disappointed ramblings at Raging Biblioholism: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-hf