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thegoodmariner's review against another edition
5.0
I've run out of ways to describe my love for Jonathan Carroll. So.....read White Apples, then read this one. Then, once you're in love too, read Bones of the Moon and Land of Laughs. You'll thank me, I promise.
karieh13's review against another edition
4.0
This will probably be a short review – which is odd given how much I love Jonathan Carroll’s books. I read them out of order, so I am always a bit lost in his world(s). The same characters appear in several books, but I can’t keep track of what they’ve done and how they are all connected…but I am perfectly fine with that. In fact, I love it.
I was lucky enough to attend one of his readings of “White Apples” – and was sucked into his universe. Life, death, love, bull terriers, life sized bags of caramels…his “magical realism” (per his website) is a delight.
For instance, I can be reading along – interested enough in the first character in “Glass Soup”, Simon Haden, when suddenly, the following paragraph yanks my eyebrows up into my hairline.
“If someone had told Simon Haden that he was a colossal prick and why, he would not have understood. He would not have denied it, he would not have understood. Because pretty people think the world should forgive whatever their sins are simply because they exist.”
“He finished in the bathroom and went to the bedroom. The envelope containing the day’s instructions lay on the dresser. In his underpants and sheer black socks, he picked it up and tore it open.”
“A little man the size of a candy bar stepped out of the envelope and into his hand. ‘Haden, how you doin’?’”
HELLO! My attention has been kicked into overdrive and I remember why I like these books so much. I love being caught off guard.
The story progresses as Simon gets onto his tour bus, “There were a few people, a few animals, two cartoon characters, and an almost six foot tall bag of caramels.”
I don’t mean to suggest that Carroll’s writing or characters or plot are goofy or silly…everything has its reason for existing in his world. Everything is a symbol, a link to another book or another character’s life.
I am a lazy Carroll reader, I must admit. I KNOW there is so much more to be gleaned from his books, but I mostly just settle back and enjoy the ride.
“God’s office was nothing special. By the way it was furnished it could just as easily have belonged to a North Dakota dentist or some comb-over in middle management. The secretary/receptionist was a forty-something nondescript who told Haden in a neutral voice to take a seat. “He’ll be with you in a minute.” Then she went back to typing – on a typewriter. God’s secretary used a manual typewriter.”
But still? Sometimes I put down this box of literary bon-bons and savor an idea like this one:
“Another time they might have had a rewarding relationship. But there are people we meet in life that miss being important to us by inches, days or heartbeats. Another place or time or emotional frame of mind and we would willingly fall into their arms; gladly take up their challenge or invitation. But as it is, we encounter them when we are discontent or content and they are not. Whatever serious chemistry might have possible if, isn’t.”
Hmmm. Maybe this review wasn’t that short after all.
I was lucky enough to attend one of his readings of “White Apples” – and was sucked into his universe. Life, death, love, bull terriers, life sized bags of caramels…his “magical realism” (per his website) is a delight.
For instance, I can be reading along – interested enough in the first character in “Glass Soup”, Simon Haden, when suddenly, the following paragraph yanks my eyebrows up into my hairline.
“If someone had told Simon Haden that he was a colossal prick and why, he would not have understood. He would not have denied it, he would not have understood. Because pretty people think the world should forgive whatever their sins are simply because they exist.”
“He finished in the bathroom and went to the bedroom. The envelope containing the day’s instructions lay on the dresser. In his underpants and sheer black socks, he picked it up and tore it open.”
“A little man the size of a candy bar stepped out of the envelope and into his hand. ‘Haden, how you doin’?’”
HELLO! My attention has been kicked into overdrive and I remember why I like these books so much. I love being caught off guard.
The story progresses as Simon gets onto his tour bus, “There were a few people, a few animals, two cartoon characters, and an almost six foot tall bag of caramels.”
I don’t mean to suggest that Carroll’s writing or characters or plot are goofy or silly…everything has its reason for existing in his world. Everything is a symbol, a link to another book or another character’s life.
I am a lazy Carroll reader, I must admit. I KNOW there is so much more to be gleaned from his books, but I mostly just settle back and enjoy the ride.
“God’s office was nothing special. By the way it was furnished it could just as easily have belonged to a North Dakota dentist or some comb-over in middle management. The secretary/receptionist was a forty-something nondescript who told Haden in a neutral voice to take a seat. “He’ll be with you in a minute.” Then she went back to typing – on a typewriter. God’s secretary used a manual typewriter.”
But still? Sometimes I put down this box of literary bon-bons and savor an idea like this one:
“Another time they might have had a rewarding relationship. But there are people we meet in life that miss being important to us by inches, days or heartbeats. Another place or time or emotional frame of mind and we would willingly fall into their arms; gladly take up their challenge or invitation. But as it is, we encounter them when we are discontent or content and they are not. Whatever serious chemistry might have possible if, isn’t.”
Hmmm. Maybe this review wasn’t that short after all.
msjoanna's review against another edition
4.0
Approximately a year ago, I read [b:White Apples|157821|White Apples|Jonathan Carroll|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418TRETS5WL._SL75_.jpg|968925]. I thought the book had a lot of promise, but ultimately didn't work. This book, the sequel to White Apples was an excellent follow up and brought the pieces together. The "rules" of the surreal universe seemed more logical and moreover more fixed in Carroll's ingenious hands. Where White Apples seemed to flounder around and the rules seemed to be changed for the convenience of the plot but not based on any internal consistency, here the surreal turns felt cohesive and preplanned.
I love the idea of a death world created by the memories of the person who died. I enjoyed that premise in [b:Brief History of the Dead|6993885|Brief History of the Dead|Kevin Brockmeier|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255716915s/6993885.jpg|836000] and found it more fully realized and interesting here.
Recommended for all fans of wacky and surrealist fiction. This was an excellent contemporary follow up to my reading of [b:The Third Policeman|27208|The Third Policeman|Flann O'Brien|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167876639s/27208.jpg|3359269].
I love the idea of a death world created by the memories of the person who died. I enjoyed that premise in [b:Brief History of the Dead|6993885|Brief History of the Dead|Kevin Brockmeier|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255716915s/6993885.jpg|836000] and found it more fully realized and interesting here.
Recommended for all fans of wacky and surrealist fiction. This was an excellent contemporary follow up to my reading of [b:The Third Policeman|27208|The Third Policeman|Flann O'Brien|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167876639s/27208.jpg|3359269].
marhill31's review against another edition
3.0
I mentioned in my previous review that I have spent the last month of year reading three novels by Jonathan Carroll. Glass Soup is the second of the Carroll novels and I will be posting a review on The Wooden Sea by the end of the year. These Carroll novels have given me a new perspective towards the fantasy genre and how far the boundaries can be extended outside of the Tolkien/Lewis/Jordan/Sanderson type of traditional fantasy.
Glass Soup is the sequel to White Apples and continues the story of the philanderer, Vincent Ettrich and his true love, Isabelle Neukor. Both of them have crossed over from life to death and back to life again. Isabelle is carrying their special child, who can restore the balance between life and death. However, the agents of chaos are determined to keep Isabelle and the child in a place where that result can not happen.
Carroll gives a philosophical and surreal perspective on love, life, death, and the afterlife that kept this reader interested throughout the novel. I will admit I thought the plot in White Apples was better executed than in Glass Soup. However, I still felt that Glass Soup was rewarding to read and a novel that deserves my recommendation. You can read Glass Soup as a standalone novel, but I would suggest that you read White Apples to get the full perspective of this duology.
Glass Soup is the sequel to White Apples and continues the story of the philanderer, Vincent Ettrich and his true love, Isabelle Neukor. Both of them have crossed over from life to death and back to life again. Isabelle is carrying their special child, who can restore the balance between life and death. However, the agents of chaos are determined to keep Isabelle and the child in a place where that result can not happen.
Carroll gives a philosophical and surreal perspective on love, life, death, and the afterlife that kept this reader interested throughout the novel. I will admit I thought the plot in White Apples was better executed than in Glass Soup. However, I still felt that Glass Soup was rewarding to read and a novel that deserves my recommendation. You can read Glass Soup as a standalone novel, but I would suggest that you read White Apples to get the full perspective of this duology.
thecommonswings's review against another edition
4.0
That’s more like it - it’s still too plotty for it to be Carroll at his very best, but it’s a far looser and stranger and darker and more focused novel than White Apple. There are some fantastic characters here, Flannery is even more terrifying an opponent than the previous one and Brox and Bob are all time classics. I’m also very fond of Sunday Suits and Jelden Butter, especially as they are mere cameos but created so brilliantly that they really dazzle. The plot resolves well and it’s all very satisfying and enjoyably wayward
But Simon Haden is possibly one of the richest characters in Carroll’s entire output. The schlubby mirror image of Vincent, he’s an unlikeable man whose vulnerabilities and pain slowly but surely resolve to make a man who redeems himself beautifully. It’s a wonderful and brilliantly done arc and possibly the most emotionally satisfying character I’ve read in a Carroll book. The book might be a bit overstuffed, like the predecessor, but it’s a glorious thing when it’s firing on all cylinders (also, a nicely subtle tie in with the Answered Prayers sequence)
But Simon Haden is possibly one of the richest characters in Carroll’s entire output. The schlubby mirror image of Vincent, he’s an unlikeable man whose vulnerabilities and pain slowly but surely resolve to make a man who redeems himself beautifully. It’s a wonderful and brilliantly done arc and possibly the most emotionally satisfying character I’ve read in a Carroll book. The book might be a bit overstuffed, like the predecessor, but it’s a glorious thing when it’s firing on all cylinders (also, a nicely subtle tie in with the Answered Prayers sequence)
survivalisinsufficient's review against another edition
3.0
I like Jonathan Carroll, and I like his imagery. This was mostly ok for me though...I much prefer some of his other stuff.
psalmcat's review against another edition
5.0
Philosophy in a book, set in Vienna. In this askew view of reality, people, when they die, don't just stop--they start working through their 'unresolved issues' by living in a world they created--while alive--in their dreams. But Chaos is threatening the way the world works, and if it succeeds humans and the rest of creation will cease to exist. Like, forever. Like a tree falling in the forest and not making a sound because no one is there to hear it fall.
This is a deceptively deep book, easily read for the 'story' in about 3 hours. Very accessible. Then, when you start thinking about it, it starts sucking you into the big questions. For instance, Who's running the world? Does it exist in the same way for everyone in it? Does the way I experience things change the way the world works? Do we know what the future holds, but keep it hidden from ourselves? Can we change fate, and thereby change the world? Is God a polar bear?
This is a deceptively deep book, easily read for the 'story' in about 3 hours. Very accessible. Then, when you start thinking about it, it starts sucking you into the big questions. For instance, Who's running the world? Does it exist in the same way for everyone in it? Does the way I experience things change the way the world works? Do we know what the future holds, but keep it hidden from ourselves? Can we change fate, and thereby change the world? Is God a polar bear?
onecrab's review
3.0
It was good enough as sequels go, but lacked the umph that Snow Apples had. There were many conversations held off to the side or whispers, and too many uses of that technique got a bit tired. That said, it was an absorbing book, and I do like Jonathan Carroll's sense of the world.
library_brandy's review against another edition
4.0
Makes me wish I remembered more of what happened in White Apples, but enough is recapped that I can get by. While this is technically a sequel, I think one could probably read this without having read the other and still have it make sense. Well, as much sense as Jonathan Carroll ever does.
kaimju's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
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