Reviews

Gentlemen of the Road: A Tale of Adventure by Michael Chabon

eletricjb's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Kind of meandering, not really gripping. Maybe that's a consequence of switching point of view so many times. Didn't have time to get attached to any of the characters. Disappointing.

kayteeem's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I can certainly see why this was dedicated to Moorcock. And this is very much the story it wanted to be. But I like a little more of my plots laid out on the page and not left to implication.

mpclemens's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

"A Tale of Adventure" yes, but written in Chabon's literary style, which can mean unpacking a good deal of verbiage to get at the heart of a scene. Entertaining enough, though it's more Webster and Roget than Crosby and Hope, for the titular Gentlemen of the Road are polyglots who feel inserted into their roles, like scholars play-acting as savages. I think it's most telling that Chabon's "Afterword" is as long as a chapter itself.

A fine enough book, but for a true "Tale of Adventure" there could stand to be more actual adventuring, and less expansive vocabulary.

star_ansible's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Really fun.

reaghan527's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

krobart's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Chabon's historical novel reads like a boy's adventure story with some adult material inserted. It concerns the fascinating country of Khazaria, a legendary Jewish country on the Caspian, and is set before 1000 AD.

See my complete review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/gentlemen-of-the-road/

chartsh's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

1.0

cwebb's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Sprachlich sehr schön. Vor allem die Stellen, an denen das Geschehen sehr distanziert dargestellt wird, sind sehr witzig.

vorpalblad's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

The afterward was more interesting than the book. It just wasn't that interesting.

nightchough's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A ripsnorter! The author's note at the end says the working title (and in his heart the true title) of this book is "Jews With Swords". Better title. This was published as a serial; a medieval Silk Road adventure story, starring Khazars with one-eyed men, torches, secret identities, revenge, and ferocious battles; illustrated by Gary Gianni in the style of Howard Pyle. What's not to love? I was hooked in the first 10 pages and could hardly put it down.