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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
Interesting because of its subject matter: four brilliant writers who were friends in Boston at a time when Boston was the cultural center of the US.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Poets chasing after a murderer! Gruesome torturous Saw-inspired-- I mean, Dante's Inferno-inspired killings! I was expecting a bit more excitment, but it was a good read. The author at times would throw in false scares, that I already knew would be harmless. Still, the better parts of the book were not outside forces battling against our core trio of poets Longfellow, Holmes and Lowell, but the interplay between them. One other main protagonist was a biracial officer in the Boston police force, which I thought was an interesting inclusion. Women were little to be seen here, except in charming daughters or long lost perfect women of their past: tedious. Not spectacular, but nevertheless, a good entertaining read.
Picked up because it is set around Boston, I did enjoy this book in the end, but it really dragged for the first half until the action started.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars. The plot would have been more gripping had it not been for the slow progression and unnecessary side stories and details. I do give credit to the author for historical accuracy (research is evident), and the amount of twists and turns and red herrings placed to intrigue the reader. But often times I felt this preciseness was lost beneath pages that did not need to be included.
The author’s scholarly background overwhelms the story.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I loved the premise; historically-based crime fighting authors use their literary expertise to solve Dante inspired murders. But the execution was somewhat lackluster. I did enjoy the mood, the atmosphere, the drearily dreamy streets of Cambridge.
However, the plot action was just so darn slooooow to get moving. It's been a long time since I struggled so much to get into a book. And after such a slow start, the ending was a clamor of activity that seemed thrown together.
I also could've used a bit more depth in the character development. Other than Dr. Holmes, most of the Danteans felt practically interchangeable; I did not feel personally invested in the fate of the characters. Honestly, I was most interested in the father-son relationship between Dr. Holmes and Wendy Jr, and the role of Patrolman Rey, rather than the murder mystery plot.
I've read several critiques of Pearl's writing style as sounding smug or pretentious. That did not bother me, as I felt he was trying to portray the attitude of his characters; our Dante club is populated by a group of bookish, secluded academics who often seem convinced if their own importance (at least at the beginning, before their journey into the problems of the "real" world).
In the end, I think I wanted to like the book more than I actually did. Not yet sure whether I will read Pearl's book, The Poe Shadow. I'm a huge Edgar Allen Pie fan, but I'm afraid it will another example of liking the premise more than finished product.
However, the plot action was just so darn slooooow to get moving. It's been a long time since I struggled so much to get into a book. And after such a slow start, the ending was a clamor of activity that seemed thrown together.
I also could've used a bit more depth in the character development. Other than Dr. Holmes, most of the Danteans felt practically interchangeable; I did not feel personally invested in the fate of the characters. Honestly, I was most interested in the father-son relationship between Dr. Holmes and Wendy Jr, and the role of Patrolman Rey, rather than the murder mystery plot.
I've read several critiques of Pearl's writing style as sounding smug or pretentious. That did not bother me, as I felt he was trying to portray the attitude of his characters; our Dante club is populated by a group of bookish, secluded academics who often seem convinced if their own importance (at least at the beginning, before their journey into the problems of the "real" world).
In the end, I think I wanted to like the book more than I actually did. Not yet sure whether I will read Pearl's book, The Poe Shadow. I'm a huge Edgar Allen Pie fan, but I'm afraid it will another example of liking the premise more than finished product.
takes a while to get into, but pretty good when you get there.
This was quite terrible. I enjoyed about 1% of it (and that was the 1% I probably tuned out).