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erainbowd 's review for:
Winter's Tale
by Mark Helprin
This book took me FOREVER to get through. Sometimes it takes me awhile to finish a book because I started it somewhere and had to leave it there - or because I'm savoring it - or some other more mysterious reason. This one? This one just felt SLOW. I couldn't bring myself to care all that much. Now, I like a good magical realist fantasy as much as the next guy, probably more. And I enjoy a good historical novel, as well. All the better if you put both those things together. But not in this case. I spent most of my time reading this book confused. Is this historical? Is it fantastical? Is it mythic? What's the story here? Whose story is this really? In the end, it seemed to be some combination of Peter Lake, his horse and New York itself. However. The narrative thrust changed so many times and so many characters got introduced with their own extended back stories from whole different worlds, that I thought I was reading a book of short stories for a while there.
There are a million good ideas in this novel. They're just all crammed up next to each other in prose that says "I"m pretty! I'm lovely descriptive language! Notice me!"
It had some great moments, which is why I didn't give up on it, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it.
Also, why call your book "Winter's Tale" when there's a much more famous play with the same title?
One of the many things I didn't understand about this book. . .
There are a million good ideas in this novel. They're just all crammed up next to each other in prose that says "I"m pretty! I'm lovely descriptive language! Notice me!"
It had some great moments, which is why I didn't give up on it, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it.
Also, why call your book "Winter's Tale" when there's a much more famous play with the same title?
One of the many things I didn't understand about this book. . .