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kimball_hansen's review against another edition
3.0
This book reminded me of life in Paraguay. I listened to this while as a police officer. I got it based off its cover.
alliecarpenter6185's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
enelvee's review against another edition
3.0
I vastly preferred The Piano Tuner. Not to say that this one was bad -- I loved the descriptions. But the story in Piano Tuner is better.
karieh13's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to love this as much as I loved "The Piano Tuner"...but it just didn't grab me. I spent much of the time trying to figure out if we were in the present day or in the future when global warming has REALLY kicked in. (I kept getting a feeling like I was reading "Friend of the Earth" meets "The Running Man".) I also thought maybe more would be made of the "sixth sense" of the main character. All of this second guessing means that I didn't appreciate the careful drawing of Isabel and her relationship with her brother. I liked it - but not in a way that will stay with me the way Mason's first book did.
d_ocean's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this up because it had great reviews at my library, but found it depressing and pointless. I literally mentally skipped an hour of reading (reading words but not focusing) and didn't miss it. That's several hours of my life I won't ever get back. :(
justinm's review against another edition
4.0
To put it mildly, I did not like Daniel Mason's first novel The Piano Tuner. When I heard he had another novel on the shelves, I had to find out how he could have persuaded the people at Picador to publish it. This one is about a girl named Isabel and her brother Isaias. They live with their parents in a farming village called St. Michael. There is a harsh drought, and the people of the village are struggling to survive. Isaias' dream is to go to the city and make money playing the fiddle. Isabel, who adores her brother very much, has to stay behind. At least for a little while.
On his second attempt, Mason manages to come up with the goods. It's still every bit as slow, low on action, and melancholic as The Piano Tuner, but this novel has a much better storyline, one I managed to read without skimming over pages to get to the end.
On his second attempt, Mason manages to come up with the goods. It's still every bit as slow, low on action, and melancholic as The Piano Tuner, but this novel has a much better storyline, one I managed to read without skimming over pages to get to the end.
theobacn's review against another edition
4.0
The story had good development and the characters were great, but the ending felt somewhat rushed and disappointing. I'm interested to read the other popular book by Daniel Mason, The Piano Tuner.
bookthia's review against another edition
2.0
When I read Mason's first novel, The Piano Tuner, I gushed about his lyrical use of language. I may have even said that it was the main reason I loved the book.
In this novel, Mason's second, even lyrical language cannot hide the fact that NOTHING happens. There is no story, not in the traditional sense. There are things that happen, but rarely are they connected in a meaningful way. Because the main character, Isabel, is such a subdued and quiet person, the entire book becomes subdued and quiet. Too much so.
So I didnt dislike the book, but I never emotionally connected with it., either
In this novel, Mason's second, even lyrical language cannot hide the fact that NOTHING happens. There is no story, not in the traditional sense. There are things that happen, but rarely are they connected in a meaningful way. Because the main character, Isabel, is such a subdued and quiet person, the entire book becomes subdued and quiet. Too much so.
So I didnt dislike the book, but I never emotionally connected with it., either
purplespecslms's review against another edition
1.0
In the beginning I thought this was going to be a good book, but then I made the mistake of reading further, where it began this violent crusade for land. I quit reading it after the uncle's tounge gets cut out, and I hardly ever quit reading a book unless it's completely unbearable, and yet this book managed that status. If you can stomach this book go for it. But I'm not thrilled with books that contian greedy landlords, taking land that is not theirs to begin with and then kicking out the rightful owners or killing them in the most brutal way immaginable, call me a wimp if you will but I am just not someone who appreciates that kind of entertainment.
bumblevee's review against another edition
2.0
I don't really know where this book came from. I never bought it—and I always remember the books I buy.. I'm convinced it just appeared one day on my bookshelf. So I was curious and decided to read it on a whim.
I haven't read Daniel Mason's The Piano Tuner, advertisements for which are plastered all over this book. I had no expectations for this book, but the premise sounded somewhat interesting.
"A Far Country" is the story of a Isabel, a young girl living in an unknown South American country, and her search for her long lost brother Isais. Mason is a gifted writer and he's able to create a vivid world for his characters to live in. In short, reading "A Far Country" is very much a sensory experience.
But that's about it. This is one of those books that starts off at point A and doesn't even make it to point B, let alone C. I could pretty much summarize this entire book in two words: Stuff happens. Mason gives Isabel some sort of supernatural inclination, but it doesn't manifest in anything other some briefly mentioned dreams of her brother. And I found the climax of the book to be terribly...anticlimactic.
It's a very prettily written book. It's an easy read too. But I never felt compelled, or connected with many of the characters. Isabel's well fleshed out, I just don't find her story terribly...interesting. I'm not even sure I'll remember most of what happened in the book in a year from now. I was hovering between a 2 and 3, because I didn't dislike the book, but nothing made me love it or feel like I want to read it again.
I haven't read Daniel Mason's The Piano Tuner, advertisements for which are plastered all over this book. I had no expectations for this book, but the premise sounded somewhat interesting.
"A Far Country" is the story of a Isabel, a young girl living in an unknown South American country, and her search for her long lost brother Isais. Mason is a gifted writer and he's able to create a vivid world for his characters to live in. In short, reading "A Far Country" is very much a sensory experience.
But that's about it. This is one of those books that starts off at point A and doesn't even make it to point B, let alone C. I could pretty much summarize this entire book in two words: Stuff happens. Mason gives Isabel some sort of supernatural inclination, but it doesn't manifest in anything other some briefly mentioned dreams of her brother. And I found the climax of the book to be terribly...anticlimactic.
It's a very prettily written book. It's an easy read too. But I never felt compelled, or connected with many of the characters. Isabel's well fleshed out, I just don't find her story terribly...interesting. I'm not even sure I'll remember most of what happened in the book in a year from now. I was hovering between a 2 and 3, because I didn't dislike the book, but nothing made me love it or feel like I want to read it again.