Historical, contemporary, and science fiction are masterfully executed to tell a story beautifully in their exploration of philosophy and physics. AutHistorical, contemporary, and science fiction are masterfully executed to tell a story beautifully in their exploration of philosophy and physics. Auto-biographical influences are clear in the narrative, as are pandemic themes. The plot leaves readers as lost as some characters but that doesn't distract from the storytelling. Ambitious is an understatement for where the author takes the story, each chapter, and each character increases the complexity of the plot with rich flavors of mystery, poignant moments of loss, and welcome assurances of joy.
Mandel may write fiction, but it's really long-form poetry disguised as prose. Highly recommend this book to anyone who reads fiction or is interested in where physics and philosophy intersect with life. It's a book to read, then share. ...more
You see a used book store as you drive home, pass it by, but something tells you to turn around. You walk in, greeted by a woman with a revolver at heYou see a used book store as you drive home, pass it by, but something tells you to turn around. You walk in, greeted by a woman with a revolver at her side and books in her eyes. You tell her you don't know why you stopped by. You don't read paper books, and you don't know what you're doing there.
The armed woman sizes you up and tells you to wait. You wait, think she forgot about you, and decide to leave. She stops you on your way out and hands you a book. She spent 10 minutes looking for it because she knew, she just knew, this book was for you. You look at the old tattered western, pay her 2 dollars for it, and leave.
You open the book on an airplane, and you see through the eyes of Jack Burns, and now you understand what she knew.
A man and his horse, traveling without a plan. A man who sees apartments building as large graveyards. A man who prefers to walk on dirt over concrete. A man who relishes the taste of hunger. A man who struggles to understand what everyone else does. And a society that cannot fathom that one can deprogram themselves from the rest of the masses by choice.
Not for every reader, but great storytelling. ...more
A beautiful example of rethinking old ideas to form a story that feels both original and authentic. What emerges is a fictional biography with a themeA beautiful example of rethinking old ideas to form a story that feels both original and authentic. What emerges is a fictional biography with a theme of "be careful what you wish for". The story spans centuries; French historical fiction intertwined with a contemporary New York narrative, all following one life's events.
Addie has promised her soul to gain freedom from her peasant life, a life where she has no say in who she is to marry, where she is to live, or what she is to do. In doing so, she has unwittingly become free of the world. Losing the ability to leave any marks or be remembered, except by the Devil...
What follows is a lonely 300 year-long journey of her struggle to keep finding a reason to live. In a life without her name, anyone to love, or anything to leave behind, she turns to art as her refuge, becoming a muse. But the Devil wants her soul, and the story cannot be so simple.
A haunting book. Superficial in concept but deep in execution. Examining themes of loneliness, mental health, and philosophical ideas on living. Written in a poignant, poetic, but beautiful demeanor, highly recommend. ...more
This book is a poignant exploration of all the darker shades of gray that emerge in wartime, told through the stories of two sisters. The author's wriThis book is a poignant exploration of all the darker shades of gray that emerge in wartime, told through the stories of two sisters. The author's writing is beautiful, poetically describing their bleak life from war-ravaged Paris to the occupied French countryside. Small, sorrowful details complete the immersion of the reader into this regrettable world, slowly unwrapping a mystery introduced in the first chapter. Their experiences with casual brutality, painful indifference, and so much suffering are difficult to read, but hard to stop, the writing too compelling. Highly recommend to all, especially readers of historical fiction. Excellent audiobook too....more
It is not often that a fictional book can explain philosophy better than works on philosophy; it does so here. What philosophy exactly? I'm not sure..It is not often that a fictional book can explain philosophy better than works on philosophy; it does so here. What philosophy exactly? I'm not sure... the book deals with the topics of "heaviness" and "lightness" as applied to love, politics, and the general disposition of the human being. However, the character development of the novel's protagonist is so superbly melancholy, the philosophy only hits you later.
The writing is in a class by itself. Ideas, sayings, or passages are repeated (often verbatim) many times throughout the book, and instead of being superfluous, they are essential for both character development and the reader's understanding. The slightly anachronistic style events are narrated in seems odd, but works so well with the shifting perspectives of the protagonists.
I listened to the English version of this book (translated from Czech). Great, but sobering, book. ...more
Usually I am pose, composed, and objective when reviewing a book; the demeanor that the hundreds that read my reviews expect. BUT I CANNOT DO THAT FORUsually I am pose, composed, and objective when reviewing a book; the demeanor that the hundreds that read my reviews expect. BUT I CANNOT DO THAT FOR THIS REVIEW! This book kicks so much ass, I devoured it in three days - like a rabid addict I was either consuming its content or salivated at the next opportunity to do so. This book was written for me, the dude who was socially awkward in adolescence and retreated to the unjudging solace of his mind to escape reality. Programming code, watching cartoons, reading sci-fi novels, playing DOS games, or enjoying cult media... these were all forms of escape, and this books pays tribute to them all+. If you were anything like me growing up, or enjoy playing MMORPGs I think you will relate with a lot in this book. If you were one of the cool kids growing up, there is a lot you won't understand in this book (it is extremely esoteric), BUT it is still an excellent piece of experimental fiction and does a great job merging the genres of love, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi and auto-biograpy together. READ THIS BOOK. Then write a great review for it and never say any thing negative about it. EVER!...more
Full disclosure: I am partial to any book that personifies death. The phenomena of death is mysterious, and seeing it interpreted as a character evokeFull disclosure: I am partial to any book that personifies death. The phenomena of death is mysterious, and seeing it interpreted as a character evokes my curiously. Death is my favorite character in this book, and without him I don't think this book would be nearly as interesting or poignant. Death serves as a narrator, and does an excellent job doing so. The basic premise of the book centers around Liesel, a poor, abandon, and mischievous girl in nazi Germany. Liesel has such a tragic life, even Death takes an interest in it and decides to tell us her story. Without going into details, I can tell you it's a sad story and that you should only read it if you are a cold, stoic, and heartless individual like myself. But it's a easy read, and an interesting one too....more
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