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jsoakes's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Love Bradbury and this was totally endearing. So much can happen in one summer of a young boy's life. So many questions beautifully posed and so many characters are given life (and death) in this relatively short book. This is both extremely dense and a very light read. Magic.
unboundmelissa's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t have words to describe this book. It’s exactly the feeling of nostalgia, brought to life with such vivid descriptions as to transport you directly to Green Town Illinois, 1928. It’s a craving to go back to the simple pleasures of childhood, of days gone by, longed for and barely glimpsed. A life seen in memories of faded, sepia toned photographs. It was beautiful. Magical. At times truly terrifying. Sad. Funny. Heartbreaking… because it’s over.
Its happiness. Life and death. Lived in someone else’s memories, of a time and place never seen but nonetheless experienced. I’m so enchanted. And left … wistful. Bereft. In desperate need of a better thesaurus.
Someone with far superior words than I, will and has described it better than I could possibly hope to. I just, so so so recommend this book.
———————————————————————
“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”
~pg ix. Just This Side of Byzantium
An Introduction
“Was there, then, no strength in growing up? No solace in being an adult? No sanctuary in life? No fleshly citadel strong enough to withstand the scrabbling assault of midnights?”
~pg 54
Pg 184 William Forrester and Helen Loomis…
***sighhhhh***
Pg 209 Lavinia Nebbs almost dying… The Lonely One
Its happiness. Life and death. Lived in someone else’s memories, of a time and place never seen but nonetheless experienced. I’m so enchanted. And left … wistful. Bereft. In desperate need of a better thesaurus.
Someone with far superior words than I, will and has described it better than I could possibly hope to. I just, so so so recommend this book.
———————————————————————
“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”
~pg ix. Just This Side of Byzantium
An Introduction
“Was there, then, no strength in growing up? No solace in being an adult? No sanctuary in life? No fleshly citadel strong enough to withstand the scrabbling assault of midnights?”
~pg 54
Pg 184 William Forrester and Helen Loomis…
***sighhhhh***
Pg 209 Lavinia Nebbs almost dying… The Lonely One
isabellevictoria's review against another edition
4.0
An incredibly indulgent, sticky sweet nostalgia journey full of the lessons of life. Solidly different from the other Bradbury I've read, but lovely all the same
bespectacled's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
aivilo611's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jadedlittlepill's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
fetzpahs2002's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely not science fiction. A nostalgic idyll of small-town midwestern America in the late 1920s. Very well written with touches presaging later writers like John Irving and Kurt Vonnegut. An unexpected gem.
coleridgegirl's review against another edition
5.0
This remains one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
lloydie666's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0