Reviews

Wizard of the Pigeons by Megan Lindholm

andrewsweet's review against another edition

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5.0

Something creeps in the night through the city of Seattle. It's dark, and mysterious, and has set its carnivorous sights on Wizard. At first, the Wizard sees his antagonist, and feels powerless in its wake. He feels the jaws closing on him, locking him out of the city's magic and convincing him that the world he believes in isn't real. Is it, or are we just riding along with the impulses and pulls of a madman?

By the end of this wonderful novel, we realize that like the Wizard, we've been duped into asking the wrong question. For the reader, the real question is "how much does it matter what's true or not"? The answer is never given -- not really. Two very real, very vivid stories intertwine as the Wizard struggles through to reconcile his "chosen" identity with his memories, trying at first to decide which is the real him. Only in the end do we realize that, regardless of whatever future he's chosen, or whatever past he has suffered, it's the friends around him and the support system that he stumbled into almost by accident that's the key to his salvation.

catberks's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.75

poisonenvy's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is a beautifully written and illustrated book about mental illness, homelessness, and healing (or not healing) from trauma.  Overall beautifully realized.  

You can also see the seeds of Realm of the Elderlings, especially Fitz, in this book which made my fangirl heart sing. 

pallavi_sharma87's review against another edition

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1.0

1 star
I love robin hobb but looks like Megan Lindholm is a different person.

Maybe be pick it up later in life.

RTC

archergal's review against another edition

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4.0

I have heard about this book that I wanted to read it for a couple of decades now, I guess. It was OOP for a long time, so when I saw it was going to be reissued and available for Kindle, I ordered it.

I can really see how reactions to this book might fracture along generational lines. The titular Wizard is a Vietnam vet who came back from the war changed, and not in a good way. The whole book deals with how you react to life-changing events, like wars that turn you into a killer when you're barely out of childhood.

I wasn't really happy with the role of Lynda as a woman who drags a man out of his place. But this is a fairly early work by this author, so I'll sigh and move on, I guess.

There's not a lot of magic here, but I liked the bits that were there. It's a good book about healing in the aftermath of trauma. But I'm old enough that I lived through the Vietnam war and worried about my brother being drafted. So I might have a slightly different perspective than some.

justjoel's review against another edition

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2.0

Honestly not sure whether this was urban fantasy or a journey into mental illness courtesy of PTSD, and maybe that's the point. Considering when this was written and how little about PTSD was known, I think it brings up some interesting points and encourages empathy for those suffering from it, particularly homeless combat veterans.

Overall, it was just okay for me.

2 out of 5 stars.

jselliot's review against another edition

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dark reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Definitely a growing pains book for Robin Hobb. Not surprising, given it came out 37 years ago. The ending helped tie everything together, at least, but half of the book was written like a fever dream. That quality made it difficult to follow the point of the story at times, because it'd wander like a bored goat, but there are threads of Hobb's fascination with grief even in this early book. 

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meganh123's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

shaekin's review against another edition

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2.0

I don't deal well with animal injuries/pain in books, so made it and hour plus into the audiobook before I had to quit.

empyrealcrown's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0