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fairybadattitude 's review for:
Winter's Tale
by Mark Helprin
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. I can say with certainty that if you want to read it, be sure you devote enough time to it. It can be very slow moving, and I would describe it as a "slog". But, there are several instances of beautiful imagery, and, if you are a native of NYC, this book is for you.
I was disappointed by the end. After devoting SO much time to reading a book that felt like actual work, I hope for a bit more than "Well, you'll just have to decide." WHAT?
I also spent a lot of my reading time feeling unsure in which era the action was set. Helprin's 1983 idea of what 1999 would look like was very similar to his description of Victorian New York. And, for being the central character, Peter Lake wasn't present for very much.
In short, Winter's Tale is a book without a real story. Maybe I'm becoming disenchanted with extensive exposition in my old age, but it seems to me Helprin could have written an equally lovely ode to NYC in a shorter form - like an essay or poem. Maybe if I had ever been to NYC, I could better appreciate the prose.
Also, I would have liked to have an answer to the bigger question: WTF? It felt similar to CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, in terms of metaphysicality and religious subtext, but there was no clear indication that this was the case.
I guess what I'm saying boils down to this: I didn't especially enjoy Winter's Tale but I feel like I could have.
I was disappointed by the end. After devoting SO much time to reading a book that felt like actual work, I hope for a bit more than "Well, you'll just have to decide." WHAT?
I also spent a lot of my reading time feeling unsure in which era the action was set. Helprin's 1983 idea of what 1999 would look like was very similar to his description of Victorian New York. And, for being the central character, Peter Lake wasn't present for very much.
In short, Winter's Tale is a book without a real story. Maybe I'm becoming disenchanted with extensive exposition in my old age, but it seems to me Helprin could have written an equally lovely ode to NYC in a shorter form - like an essay or poem. Maybe if I had ever been to NYC, I could better appreciate the prose.
Also, I would have liked to have an answer to the bigger question: WTF? It felt similar to CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, in terms of metaphysicality and religious subtext, but there was no clear indication that this was the case.
I guess what I'm saying boils down to this: I didn't especially enjoy Winter's Tale but I feel like I could have.