Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Reservation Road by John Burnham Schwartz, John Shea, Stanley Tucci, Anne Twomey ISBN: 0-375-40310-8 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 01 September, 1998 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 2 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.88 (49 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: An understated marvel
Comment: There's an inherent problem in writing (and reading) novels which devote themselves entirely to unexpected death and its aftermath, entirely aside from the fact that it's a subject matter which has been done, and re-done, and overdone since the dawn of fiction, and is therefore very difficult to make fresh, interesting or insightful. The major problem is that the author runs the very real risk of dousing the reader with such unrelenting dreariness that finishing the book is almost a chore. As far as novels about death go, Reservation Road is far better than most. It's thought-provoking, sincere, and, for the most part, avoids melodrama. But there's not much new for Schwartz to explore-if grief is a universal language, the theme of personal loss is a literary staple. The ending of the book (I won't spoil it) is somewhat surprising, and emotionally fulfilling at first-until one gives it serious thought and wonders if the author sacrificed reality for the sake of making "a point" about human nature.
Two things save Reservation Road, however, and make it worth reading. The first is the character of Dwight, whose anguish and self-loathing in the wake of the accident he caused is arresting, complex, and unique. The second is Schwartz's prose, which is lucid and engaging-on occasion, it's even downright eloquent. In the end, the novel is an almost perfect hybrid of Jacqueline Mitchard's far inferior "The Deep End of the Ocean" and James Agee's superior "A Death in the Family." It may not be a lasting work of literature, but it's a good piece of contemporary fiction. I would consider sampling Schwartz's work again.
Rating: 3
Summary: expecting more getting much less
Comment: This book came to me very highly recommended, but I was rather disappointed. I found the subject matter compelling and I thought it was going to be a great read...but what I found was a story that pushes you in head first (and not in a good way) and doesn't give you time to get to know the characters you are expected to care about, later. Sure I was sad that this family lost a child, but I didn't know the family before nor did I understand the family's relationship with the boy that died. The boy is killed in the very beginning we don't even get good flashbacks. The book left me wanting so much more. The ending was disappointing but a relief after a very long and boring middle. The book had very few characters who seemed almost too easily placed in the story...too connect that it lost the book's reality. It had some good moments and you learn to like some of the characters, but I wouldn't rush out and get it, but if you can't find anything else to read, go ahead you might like it, others did.
Rating: 3
Summary: Reservations
Comment: I carefully considered the rating, and finally gave it three stars for the lovely prose and the plot line.
Frankly, I did not enjoy the journey...the characters fall flat and the actual execution of the plot is dry and in some places way too contrived. I simply did not care that much about the characters. I finished because I had bought a hard back version based on a review in Atlantic Monthly, but I was not left longing for more or even appreciating the whole effort. I felt cheated and Atlantic Monthly owes me $ 19.99.
This is the only book in a long time I sold to a used book store. Normally, I keep all books, especially hard backs. But I could not imagine ever picking this one up again for any reason whatsoever.
 |
Title: Claire Marvel by John Burnham Schwartz ISBN: 0375719156 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 11 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
 |
Title: Bicycle Days: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries (Paperback)) by John Burnham Schwartz ISBN: 037570275X Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
 |
Title: The Ax by Donald E. Westlake ISBN: 0446606081 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film by Peter Biskind ISBN: 068486259X Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 06 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
 |
Title: Three Junes by Julia Glass ISBN: 0385721420 Publisher: Anchor Books/Doubleday Pub. Date: 22 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
