Comments on: Review: Wonder Boys, Michael Chabon

By: Review: A Casual Vacancy, J. K. Rowling « Jenny's Books

Review: A Casual Vacancy, J. K. Rowling « Jenny's Books — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:09:35 +0000

[…] history of time. The people in A Casual Vacancy aren’t likable, as it happens, but as I have previously pointed out, the problem for me isn’t unlikable but unliked. I know this is true in the case of J. K. […]

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:47:09 +0000

I have been trying to decide for a while now if I should read any of Chabon’s fiction. I really liked Manhood for Amateurs (thank you for the recommendation, btw), but wasn’t quite sure I would like him as a fiction writer. If that makes sense. I don’t think I’ll read this. It doesn’t sound very appealing to me.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:11:37 +0000

In reply to Jenny. Yes, it made a difference in a good way. Now I'm worried you might not like Walker Percy, but at least his characters are more intentional about being unable to decide.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:09:08 +0000

In reply to Anastasia. Yes! Summerland is what made me love him.

By: Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)

Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:33:27 +0000

Bill Bryson is the author I will probably be giving up on. I have just never loved any of the books he’s written. I still feel like I will try A Walk in the Woods just to be sure, but if that isn’t stunning then we may just be done.

This is a lovely explanation of why you’re done not Chabon. I’ve only read Kavalier and Klay so can’t comment on him more generally, but I did like that book and have a couple of his books on my shelf that I’m looking forward to trying.

By: helen

helen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:53:22 +0000

What a great review! I keep meaning to read something by Michael Chabon and never do. I really must, you have intrigued me. How do you manage to be so funny and yet so insightful? Can I be you when I grow up?

But – a dog dies – oh nooooo! (When I went to see Dancing with Wolves in a packed cinema, the audience sat in silence during the destruction of the Native Americans but when the wolf and horse were killed there was a collected squawk of outrage, horror and disgust!)

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:35:08 +0000

I saw the WB movie and hated it and I ALSO hated The Final Solution and only kind of have an interest in reading his other adult books (mostly because of the covers, tbh), HOWEVER I loved Summerland (his YA fantasy novel) and while I won’t tell you to read it because I’ve gotten over trying to make people read authors they hate, I WILL say that it’s probably his most likable book if you disliked all his other books. I mean, the writing style has got that thing that goes “and here is what this thing means in case you didn’t figure it out” but otherwise it’s lovely. Baseball! The end of the world! Zeppelins!

By: Care

Care — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:04:13 +0000

OH dear, I can’t follow any of this. I remember seeing Wonder Boys – the Movie but don’t remember anything except the actors IN it and I have NEVER read anything by this author and go back and forth about it and might still some day but he teeters on that POPLER tag that makes me think he is Patterson or Harlan somebody and yet I do know about his cool marriage. So he must live in an other dimension. Can’t comment. Don’t know. LOVE your tags, as always. Cheers.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:43:05 +0000

In reply to Fyrefly. Hahaha, I don't think you wrong! I love that book all over the place but I can understand very easily why a person wouldn't.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 23:41:18 +0000

In reply to zibilee. It might help to go in without any expectations, I think? That usually helps me, when it's a super-hyped author that everybody loves. Not in this case probably though!