Review:Translation: C.J. Hogarth, 143496 words

The first 10 chapters (half the book) have everything that makes a picaresque novel: funny characters, funny adventures and travels. It rolls along at a perfect pace. Gogol is witty and smooth, a suave motor mouth. I wouldn’t say that as a narrator he’s in the way, but he is crowding the reader.

Gogol’s deadpan narrative style is suitable for comedy. The main character, Chichikov describes an acquaintance, Sobakevitch, as “a bear, and not... Read more

Review:The prose is beautiful as is the messaging. Many of the characters don't redeem themselves, which is probably better. That said, it took me a long time to get through for some reason. I'd definitely suggest the book, however. Read more

Review:As usual Walter Mosley does it again. Great!!! I grew up in LA and recognize all the areas he talks about in the book. I would love to see Denzel play Easy again in any of the books made into a movie. Good as usual. Can't wait for the next one. Read more

Review:It's been several years already since I first read this book, and actually I just came across this review area and listing now, to see if Seth has come out with anything new (that I haven't yet read), so I decided to add a brief comment about how much I LOVED this book. It was so rich and engrossing (even if I skimmed over some of the historical/political descriptive plot parts to get more quickly back to the main love story saga plotline), I still think of this book "fondly" as one of my ... Read more

Review:I found the story line engaging, but the characters really pulled me into the book. They ring true, and I could imagine myself sitting with them and enjoying being part of the conversation. If you enjoy well written prose and great characters, you should enjoy The Essex Serpent. Read more

Review:Mosley continues to take you deep inside an LA that was largely invisible to the greater society - in this case, the black community of the 1960s. His Easy Rawlins series provides so much insight into the development of LA that it ought to be cross-referenced under sociology. Read more

Review:I'm reading this for a college assignment. Hate it. Hate it. I don't see why anyone likes it. I'm not Italian or Middle English. Give me a modern translation. If they can translate the Bible into readable English, surely they can translate this. Read more

Review:Structurally and technically, this novel belongs with Faulkner, Proust, Woolf, and all the best writers concerned with the concept of "time". But it is (if at times "slow") perfect for a common reader. Zadie Smith can tell a tale with all its implications. An amazing voice in contemporary literature (sic) has proven again she is. PS Her tone is not to be missed if you don't know it yet. A great writer in her prime. Read more

Review:Brilliant. In a very NY Times or WaPo jourlnalistic style,the author lets the people he "interviews" tell the story of how the world as we know it ended, but also how it ended for people from different cultures all over the world. Overall the narration serves to emphasize our commonalities more than our differences, because all of the characters are well drawn enough, even within a short chapter style, to be accessible.

There are enough contemporary references to make the story line feel ... Read more

Review:Mira Grant writes intelligent, biological end-of-the-world stories.

This book, halfway between near-future science fiction, horror, and corporate espionage, isn't easily categorized. But it's deeply enjoyable.

It deals with an idea: What if we could engineer parasites that provide medical treatments over a long period? These treatments would last for years, not hours. A parasite that, for example, generates insulin could end a diabetics need for injections.

The society Mira ... Read more