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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
Very cool story. Really interesting for anyone living in New York, you learn all about the Cricket playing subcultures and places in the outer boroughs that unfortunately most New Yorkers don't even know exist. Highly recommended, if for no other reason than this. The story is compelling as well, but to me not as interesting as the backdrop.
This is one of the most beautifully written novels I've read in a while. Some of O'Neill's sentences are so good I had to just stop, reread them and admire how perfect they were. It's also a great portrait of New York from an uncommon perspective, and a good exploration of the complications of love and marriage. Definitely worth reading.
I thought there might be more from this book given its acclaim. The subject matter was fairly novel, and there are descriptive gems interspersed throughout, but ultimately there's no there there.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was surprised that this story pulled me in. But it's enticing and full of interesting information, curiously about Holland and cricket. It's a New York City story with terrific writing.
President Obama endorsed this book! To mark this momentous occasion, Random House helpfully sent us a roll of stickers to press lovingly onto our stock’s covers. “‘Fascinating... A wonderful book.’ — President Barack Obama.” As these stickers make no mention of the title or author, I of course seized the opportunity to abscond with a half dozen or so. I plan to stick them on other books that strike my fancy, including, of course, my own—if the Blue Fairy ever comes along and makes it a Real Book.
My mind wandered over these assorted fantasies quite a bit while I was reading Netherland. It’s not a bad book, but it never grabbed me with anything like the vigor that had me snatching up those stickers. In many ways, it’s an update of [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1218672960s/4671.jpg|245494] to a post-9/11 world, but it lacks Gatsby’s passion. O’Neill is very clever in his reinvention of Fitzgerald’s story, making its modern version about immigration and race, and also cricket. I was intrigued by the dreams and exploits of Chuck Ramkissoon, but I found the narration of Hans cold and bland and at times even a bit turgid. Nick Carraway keeps himself at a remove, I suppose, but Fitzgerald’s lively prose sizzles while O’Neill’s staid, literary style failed to move me. Don’t get me wrong: I’m still glad I read this book. But while it engaged my brain, it failed to capture my heart.
My mind wandered over these assorted fantasies quite a bit while I was reading Netherland. It’s not a bad book, but it never grabbed me with anything like the vigor that had me snatching up those stickers. In many ways, it’s an update of [b:The Great Gatsby|4671|The Great Gatsby|F. Scott Fitzgerald|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1218672960s/4671.jpg|245494] to a post-9/11 world, but it lacks Gatsby’s passion. O’Neill is very clever in his reinvention of Fitzgerald’s story, making its modern version about immigration and race, and also cricket. I was intrigued by the dreams and exploits of Chuck Ramkissoon, but I found the narration of Hans cold and bland and at times even a bit turgid. Nick Carraway keeps himself at a remove, I suppose, but Fitzgerald’s lively prose sizzles while O’Neill’s staid, literary style failed to move me. Don’t get me wrong: I’m still glad I read this book. But while it engaged my brain, it failed to capture my heart.
This is the first novel I've read with 9/11 as a historical backdrop - and the book does very accurately address a lot of the charged emotions of that time. I particularly like the section when the main character wonders if 9/11 was "pre-apocalyptic, like 1930s Germany for the Jews." I also found this similar to "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," with the requisite quirky cast of characters. Very literary and well-written.
I'm still trying to figure out what I thought about this book. I started reading it and it seemed pretty interesting, then it settled into a lull and I had stopped reading it for awhile. Erin alerted me recently it had one the Pen/Faulkner so I figured I'd better finish. It's pretty interesting in that it is interesting at all, with the main character being a bit of a bore, and there being lots and lots of cricket. Also the the main plot points involve him separating from his wife and then their reunion (not a spoiler because of the often non-linear narration). But I can't stand her, god she's awful, one of those people that lecture you on politics and other awful habits. The other plot involves the murder of his friend Chuck and he is quite interesting.
This book is simply unenjoyable. Halfway done. Woo-hoo!
It definitely got better towards the end.
It definitely got better towards the end.
Did Joseph O'Neill write this to bore himself to sleep every night and then it accidentally got published?