Mark Helprin

Mark Helprin surpasses all authors I’ve read in his ability to describe people, places, things, philosophical perspectives, feelings, music, art, moments . . .alright, ANYTHING, and move me to tears in the rapturous sublimity of it all. . .but that doesn’t mean, that while listening to the almost 30 hours of this book that I didn’t experience exasperation, and sadly, in the end, disappointment---maybe even anger over having invested so much time and admiration, for a broken promise that I would put the story away satisfied and content.… (meer)

Listening to Oliver Wyman read this, I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of light, skies, cityscapes, snowscapes...I guess all of the descriptions really, were poetic--I've never heard better descriptions..yet, I wasn't over-the-moon in love with the entire story because it seemed too long (22 discs/27 hours of reading) and it lost me several times with time jumps and several nonsensical analogies. Cataloged entries of this book include "reincarnation" as a subject heading: I don't personally feel that was a point trying to be made. The book seems full of mysterious illusions--sometimes like it's written in code, but it seemed more to be stressing a continuity of life, relations, love, and time; that everything is happening at the same time; and suggesting that thereby some sort of uncomprehensible justice results. But I can see the urge to include reincarnation as a subject addressed in the story---explaining why would spoil it if you haven't' read it. For all it's confusing parts though, it is worth reading (or listening to); you'll certainly want to become acquainted with Athensore! (It's a movie now too, so I guess I'll tackle that next).… (meer)