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<book id="111106">
  <title><![CDATA[The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0571174930]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780571174935]]></isbn13>
    <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171648534m/111106.jpg</image_url>
    <work>
  <best_book_id type="integer">111106</best_book_id>
  <books_count type="integer">10</books_count>
  <default_description>The Booker Prize-winning author of &lt;b&gt;Oscar and Lucinda&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;The Tax Inspector&lt;/b&gt; now gives readers a hero, the malformed but ferociously wilful Tristan Smith, who becomes the object of the world's byzantine political intrigues, even as he attains stardom in a bizarre Sirkus that is part passion play and part Mortal Kombat.</default_description>
  <id type="integer">1425832</id>
  <media_type nil="true"></media_type>
  <original_language_id type="integer" nil="true"></original_language_id>
  <original_publication_day type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_day>
  <original_publication_month type="integer" nil="true"></original_publication_month>
  <original_publication_year type="integer">1994</original_publication_year>
  <original_title>The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith</original_title>
  <rating_dist>total:184|5:42|4:63|3:55|2:20|1:4|</rating_dist>
  <ratings_count type="integer">184</ratings_count>
  <ratings_sum type="integer">671</ratings_sum>
  <reviews_count type="integer">254</reviews_count>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">13</text_reviews_count>
</work>

  <average_rating><![CDATA[3.65]]></average_rating>
  <ratings_count><![CDATA[149]]></ratings_count>
  <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[10]]></text_reviews_count>
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111106.The_Unusual_Life_of_Tristan_Smith]]></url>
  <authors>
        <author id="22595">
      <name><![CDATA[Peter Carey]]></name>
      <role><![CDATA[]]></role>
      <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22595.Peter_Carey]]></url>
      <average_rating><![CDATA[3.58]]></average_rating>
      <ratings_count><![CDATA[5911]]></ratings_count>
      <text_reviews_count><![CDATA[881]]></text_reviews_count>
    </author>
      </authors>
    <reviews start="1" end="20" total="251">
    <review id="23127514">
    <user id="746793">
    <name><![CDATA[Alison]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Carrboro, NC]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/746793-alison]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Anyone ever told they couldn't be actor because of how they looked.]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed May 28 09:35:49 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed May 28 09:59:09 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I've never read a Peter Carey novel that I haven't enjoyed. He's a brilliant stylist with an great ear for language (of the spoken and written varieties) and he can spin a good yarn.  &quot;The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith&quot; is no exception. I spent a while trying to figure out if its setting w...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23127514">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23127514]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="45685792">
    <user id="2007402">
    <name><![CDATA[Steve]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Adelaide, 05, Australia]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2007402-steve]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Feb 07 17:32:09 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Feb 07 17:32:09 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Funny, sad, thrilling and thought-provoking. To thoroughly comprehend this book, it probably helps to be Australian: although set in mythical nations Efica and Voorstand, it quite brilliantly explores the love-hate relationship which Australians have with American culture. However, the book never ta...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45685792">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45685792]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="65657562">
    <user id="2581498">
    <name><![CDATA[Catherinezm]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2581498-catherinezm]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Jul 31 09:25:58 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jul 31 09:26:28 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Bizzare - magical realism - excellent]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65657562]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="19997614">
    <user id="1077169">
    <name><![CDATA[Peter]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Huntington, VT]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1077169-peter]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Apr 12 08:08:18 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Apr 12 08:10:45 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[It is an odd book.  I really like Peter Carey, but I'm not quite sure what he was trying to get at in this story.  Still, it is well written, with magical elements and a picture of a weird world, and it is written as a quest which I always like.  It somehow seems like it owes something to the Tin Dr...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19997614">more...</a>]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19997614]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="45429863">
    <user id="1897209">
    <name><![CDATA[Catherine]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Canada]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1897209-catherine]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Feb 04 22:20:01 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Feb 04 22:20:01 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I really enjoyed this quirky book. It was a bargain bin treasure!]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45429863]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="1147407">
    <user id="78903">
    <name><![CDATA[Stacey]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Waltham, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/78903-stacey]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Most]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu May 10 13:04:43 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 10 13:06:53 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A strange and twisted novel set in a non-existent place yet imbued with a ring of familiarity despite its fantastical set-up and singularly mal-formed title character. We never exactly what is wrong with him, but the story doesn't suffer, it's a very interesting work.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1147407]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="16030731">
    <user id="317544">
    <name><![CDATA[Kendra]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Ithaca, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/317544-kendra]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Feb 21 16:04:49 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Feb 21 16:05:42 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.  As usual, Peter Carey writes a very good book that is very difficult to read at times.  One of my favorite writers.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16030731]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="19319245">
    <user id="1049907">
    <name><![CDATA[Jane]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United Kingdom]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1049907-jane]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Apr 02 14:57:23 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Apr 02 14:58:36 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[One of the most intriguing and mystifying books I have ever read.  Outstanding, imaginative and compelling.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19319245]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="37814429">
    <user id="1295781">
    <name><![CDATA[Sonya]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Englewood, CO]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1295781-sonya]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2000</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Nov 15 14:13:36 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Nov 15 14:14:34 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A departure from Jack Maggs; think Geek Love, maybe, or A Prayer for Owen Meany. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37814429]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="2711578">
    <user id="137732">
    <name><![CDATA[Sophie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Rye, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/137732-sophie]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jul 04 11:25:35 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 04 11:26:02 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Amusing, twisted, uncomfortable, and politically fused. Very Carey. ]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2711578]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="27080109">
    <user id="161618">
    <name><![CDATA[Lis]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Northampton, MA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/161618-lis-wheaton]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Oct 06 07:45:22 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Jul 12 19:04:03 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Oct 06 07:45:22 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A freak, a sirkus, how could I not read it?]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27080109]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="19274405">
    <user id="454255">
    <name><![CDATA[Velvetink]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Watanobbi, NSW, Australia]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/454255-velvetink]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Apr 02 03:44:36 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 09 08:42:14 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[AWESOME! Love this book]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19274405]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="3628939">
    <user id="178582">
    <name><![CDATA[Kowhai]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/178582-kowhai]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Jul 26 23:11:45 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Jul 26 23:11:45 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Meh.  Very long.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3628939]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="79069110">
    <user id="2666477">
    <name><![CDATA[Nigelicious]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Chatswood, 02, Australia]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2666477-nigelicious]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>0</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Nov 26 15:53:54 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Nov 26 15:53:56 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79069110]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="78624560">
    <user id="2591242">
    <name><![CDATA[Liz]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Singapore, 00, Singapore]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2591242-liz]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>0</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Nov 22 08:26:31 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 22 08:26:31 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78624560]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="76959988">
    <user id="2910634">
    <name><![CDATA[Marc]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Argyle, NS, Canada]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2910634-marc-d-entremont]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>0</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Nov 06 17:03:48 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Nov 06 17:03:48 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76959988]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="76591847">
    <user id="2905494">
    <name><![CDATA[Patrick]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Washington, DC]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2905494-patrick]]></url>
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      <rating>4</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Nov 03 10:14:47 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Nov 03 10:14:47 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76591847]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="75832487">
    <user id="2880464">
    <name><![CDATA[Kim]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2880464-kim]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Oct 26 17:44:16 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Oct 26 17:44:16 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75832487]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="73399754">
    <user id="323002">
    <name><![CDATA[unnarrator]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/323002-unnarrator]]></url>
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      <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Oct 04 08:26:37 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Oct 04 08:26:37 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73399754]]></url>
</review>
    <review id="72939678">
    <user id="2813590">
    <name><![CDATA[Kate]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[New York, NY]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2813590-kate]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>3</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Sep 29 17:21:23 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Nov 08 19:50:54 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72939678]]></url>
</review>
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    <book_link id="8">
  <name><![CDATA[WorldCat]]></name>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=111106</link>
</book_link>
  </book_links>
</book>
</GoodreadsResponse>