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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
I listened to the audiobook. I liked it a lot--it kept me going out walking--and the writing was good. The end didn't quite work for me, though. Felt too contrived, somehow, a bit of a letdown.
DNF. I will watch the movie for bookclub. Just could not get into it and 28 hours of audio is a commitment.
This was one of the worst books I have ever had the displeasure of reading. At no point during all of Helprin's rambling could I begin to even tell you the point of this story. Helprin is a very vivid, picturesque writer--which is great when there is a plot that makes sense. I found myself constantly re reading parts of the book because I had no idea what was going on.
I am intrigued to see how they will make a movie out of this because I truly cannot see anyone sitting through it.
I have read others reviews, and I am saddened to have missed the point of the book--but it did not grab me as it grabbed other readers. I did not enjoy this book.
I am intrigued to see how they will make a movie out of this because I truly cannot see anyone sitting through it.
I have read others reviews, and I am saddened to have missed the point of the book--but it did not grab me as it grabbed other readers. I did not enjoy this book.
This book takes you through phases. Curious at first, then loving the middle with it's Wes Anderson-like quirkiness. Then the ending, with the fanciful becoming preposterous and no explanation or alternative world logic to explain what's going on. I'd say read and enjoy it, but put it down with about 50 pages left and write your own ending. Can't imagine how they made a film of this bit I've heard it's terrible.
Loved it, loved it, loved it and after the first 500 pages I put it down. Unable to reconnect with the magical fantasy of the beginning. The writing is beautiful and is able to transport but due to the length I can't really recommend.
Re-read for Book Riot's Read Harder 2017.
This is a complicated book, that centers around a magical white horse, and the Penn family. The first section introduces, among other people, Peter Lake and Beverley Penn. The second, Virginia Gamely, whose family was close to the Penns, and Hardesty Marratta. The third and fourth sections bring together people from the first and second, and tie their stories together.
Also looming large is Lake Coheeries, where several characters are from, and New York, where the majority of the city is set. The Penn family has roots in both those places. The setting is an important part of the story, with a mysterious cloud wall that has the power to affect drastic changes to time, and plenty of characters writing love letters to their home towns.
As for the characters, there are so many of them it's sometimes difficult to keep track, as their lives bounce off each other, impacting and setting away on new trajectories. People fall in love, create grand dreams, or make dangerous enemies. People steal, build businesses, raise fortunes or slid into poverty. The criminals might decide to reform--or hold onto their desires despite who they hurt. There are secrets and plots and revenge and love all mixed up together, making it a intriguing if sometimes puzzling read. And the end leaves a little up to the reader, to decide what, in the end, it all means.
This is a complicated book, that centers around a magical white horse, and the Penn family. The first section introduces, among other people, Peter Lake and Beverley Penn. The second, Virginia Gamely, whose family was close to the Penns, and Hardesty Marratta. The third and fourth sections bring together people from the first and second, and tie their stories together.
Also looming large is Lake Coheeries, where several characters are from, and New York, where the majority of the city is set. The Penn family has roots in both those places. The setting is an important part of the story, with a mysterious cloud wall that has the power to affect drastic changes to time, and plenty of characters writing love letters to their home towns.
As for the characters, there are so many of them it's sometimes difficult to keep track, as their lives bounce off each other, impacting and setting away on new trajectories. People fall in love, create grand dreams, or make dangerous enemies. People steal, build businesses, raise fortunes or slid into poverty. The criminals might decide to reform--or hold onto their desires despite who they hurt. There are secrets and plots and revenge and love all mixed up together, making it a intriguing if sometimes puzzling read. And the end leaves a little up to the reader, to decide what, in the end, it all means.
So this book was really promising at the beginning and I loved the prose and how the characters were written and how pretty the descriptions were... the first half of the book is just beautiful and I loved it. But then the second half of the book, it kind of loses its pacing and becomes very jumbled and confusing, with finally ending in a really flat and meh disappointing way. So I enjoyed it, I'll read the first half again from time to time, but again, don't really know what the author was doing with the ending.
I felt like this book could have been half as long. It kept dragging on and on and on... it was exhausting.
Man it took me forever to slog through this book. There were some high points in the first 3rd so I thought I was going to love it, but around half way through I found the delightful moments were few and far between. Only read this if you care deeply about New York City in the winter.
I liked this, though not as much as 'Soldier of the Great War'. the underlying theme was a bit too conservative for my taste, but I love his writing.