From the bestselling author of The Piano Tuner, a stunning novel about a young girl’s journey through a vast, unnamed country in searc...
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Aug 06, 2007
Adriana
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After having read Daniel Mason's first novel, The Piano Tuner, I eagerly anticipated the release of his second book. However, I was sadly disappointed in it. A Far Country is written with the same beautiful, fluid, lyrical prose that made The Piano Tuner so attractive to me, but in this novel, the language doesn't seem to serve as a vehicle for an engaging story - rather, it is the mask which hides the fact that there is not much of a story at all.
A Far Country is about a teenage More...
A Far Country is about a teenage More...
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Jan 20, 2012
Jeslyn
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Excellent second outing - I've yet to read anything I wasn't completely engrossed by from this author. Written from the perspective of a young South American girl, Mason crafts a perspective that is believable, poignant, and riveting in carrying the reader through Isabel's odyssey of seeking her brother Isaias, who has left the destitution of their agricultural life for greater promise in the city.
Interestingly, one of the most consistent criticisms this novel received was that the More...
Interestingly, one of the most consistent criticisms this novel received was that the More...
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Jan 27, 2012
Roger
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Daniel Mason burst on the literary scene with his critically-acclaimed first novel, The Piano Tuner. A tale of one man’s journey into the sweltering jungles of 19th century Burma, it earned comparisons with Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. With his second novel, A Far Country, Mason returns with another mysterious story, told with his signature use of lyrical prose that matches the beauty of any serious novelist working today. The story, however, in this second novel is stunted and seems uncertain of
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Jul 24, 2011
Shane
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I was disappointed in this novel from an obviously very accomplished writer. It read more like a year in the life of the protagonist, Isabel, with a series of incidents, rather than a story that builds towards a climax.
Isabel, a 14-year old girl, has a spiritual and symbiotic bond with her older brother Isaias, who has left their drought-ridden village to make it in the big city “down south” in this unnamed South American country that could be anything from Brazil to Peru to Argentin More...
Isabel, a 14-year old girl, has a spiritual and symbiotic bond with her older brother Isaias, who has left their drought-ridden village to make it in the big city “down south” in this unnamed South American country that could be anything from Brazil to Peru to Argentin More...
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Feb 05, 2009
Daniel Mason was a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco, when he wrote the critically acclaimed best seller The Piano Tuner (2002). He has once again proven his literary talent with A Far Country, even if this second novel garnered more mixed reviews. Mason exhibits the same lush, imaginative writing of The Piano Tuner, but here__despite touches of magical realism__he presents a spare, more allegorical vision of poverty. In fact, the setting could be anywhere from Sa
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Sep 14, 2011
Natalie
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This book was great until the end. I was disappointed that there wasn't more to tell I would describe this as: novel with a short story ending.
However, worth reading due to beautiful passages that encapsulate sadness, loneliness, despair and youth. Some of the writing is breathtaking. Some of these passages glued themselves into my consciousness. I can't wait to read "The Piano Tuner." I also loved that Isabel was "intuitive" and had extra senses. It added More...
However, worth reading due to beautiful passages that encapsulate sadness, loneliness, despair and youth. Some of the writing is breathtaking. Some of these passages glued themselves into my consciousness. I can't wait to read "The Piano Tuner." I also loved that Isabel was "intuitive" and had extra senses. It added More...
Jun 11, 2011
CuteBadger
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Nov 28, 2010
Leroy
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This was a well written book in many ways, but I enjoyed the first half of it more than the second half, for the story didn't seem to progress much and the book just seem to stop rather than come to a satisfying end. I liked the descriptive writing, and I got a good impression of Isabelle, the central character, and the struggle she went through. But, still, I was disappointed that there was not more of a story.
I thought this was an interesting statement of Isabelle's thoughts: "S More...
I thought this was an interesting statement of Isabelle's thoughts: "S More...
May 25, 2010
Ruth
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268 pages. Donated 2010 May.
From the bestselling author of The Piano Tuner, a stunning novel about a young girl’s journey through a vast, unnamed country in search of her brother.
Fourteen-year-old Isabel was born in a remote village with the gift and curse of “seeing farther.” When drought and war grip the backlands, her brother Isaias joins a great exodus to a teeming city in the south. Soon Isabel must follow, forsaking the only home she’s ever known, her sole consolati More...
From the bestselling author of The Piano Tuner, a stunning novel about a young girl’s journey through a vast, unnamed country in search of her brother.
Fourteen-year-old Isabel was born in a remote village with the gift and curse of “seeing farther.” When drought and war grip the backlands, her brother Isaias joins a great exodus to a teeming city in the south. Soon Isabel must follow, forsaking the only home she’s ever known, her sole consolati More...
Aug 10, 2010
Shelli
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I rarely abandon a book half way through (Book 2 of Twilight I MEAN YOU) but I let this one go at the half way point. The Piano Tuner was so lovely and engrossing and I kept waiting for that to happen with A Far Country but it just left me cold. I didn't love (or even hate) any of the characters in a way that compelled me to find out what happens to them and I think it had to do with the POV the story is told from. The protagonist is a 14 year-old girl from a rural countryside who goes to the ci
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Sep 27, 2011
Hannah
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Aug 08, 2008
Julie
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A quiet but fierce novel. Set in Brazil (it's important to me to know WHERE I am as I read- I'm geographically-anal so I put together various clues- a severe drought in NE Brazil in the early 1980s, sugar cane industry, zebu cows, a great southern city, the Amazon. Then I read two 2002 interviews with Mason where he stated he was working on a novel set in Brazil...) Mason offer the mystical, mythology, a sense of fable- all swirling like feathery clouds through the stony reality of poverty, fami
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Jun 17, 2008
Rob
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Since I really liked Mason's first book, "The Piano Tuner", I was excited to start this. I almost shelved it after 85 pages since I was falling asleep after every other page, but pressed on to my 100 page cut off. I'm glad I did. This is a story of a 14 year old girl in an undisclosed South American country who grows up in the sticks and heads to the big city. The early part of the book decribes how hard life is in the poor farming community stricken with drought (obvious and borin
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Oct 22, 2010
Briynne
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I can't believe I let this sit on my bookshelf for three years before reading it. I was impressed with this one, and I was even more impressed with the author. His writing is just really lovely and delicate. Isabel's point of view is perfect in it's innocent nonchalance of the poverty, deprivation, and violence of the drought-stricken countryside and favela-like slums. The hint of magical realism that gives a South American flavor to his writing also works really well with his subject matter
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Jul 29, 2011
Catherine
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Daniel Mason is an amazing writer and a poor storyteller. It is a weird and ultimately disappointing mixture seen also with his first book, The Piano Tuner. I love the way he describes everything, but he can't bring it around to a satisfying ending in either book. I am reminded of what Amy Bloom said--that we should be in awe of every main character who ends the book nicely because by that time in the writing the author wants to kill them off. Would not recommend despite the strengths.
Dec 20, 2010
Doug
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The vague Brazilian setting of this novel lends the feel of a fable, and to powerful effect. It is a migrant's story, one that tells itself over and over. The form lends a flatness to the story, lessening my connection to the characters, but revealing an otherworldly aspect to the landscape. There's some lovely detail.
Mason has a controlled hand, and there was a point at which i found myself wanting him to amp up the magical realism, or take us somewhere that truly is another world.
Mason has a controlled hand, and there was a point at which i found myself wanting him to amp up the magical realism, or take us somewhere that truly is another world.
Dec 23, 2011
Fredsky
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I found it hard to read about a character who rarely spoke. I wanted another Piano Tuner, of course, and this was not. I was hopeful in the beginning because Isabelle was a child blessed with the abilities of "far sight"; however, her mother took her to a shaman who enclosed her in protection from this. So she had a little far sight, but not enough for me. How spoiled I was by The Piano Tuner!
Aug 12, 2007
Teddy
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Here's my review from Amazon.ca:
Since I loved the Piano Tuner, I couldn't wait to read Daniel Mason's new book A Far Country. It's a meditative story of class, migration, isolation, and poverty. Mason again writes in beautiful lyrical prose. This is a more simple story than Piano Tuner, but important in it's message. At times I found the story drag and a bit flat. We know it takes place in an undisclosed South American country, but we don't know for sure when it was. It was either in More...
Since I loved the Piano Tuner, I couldn't wait to read Daniel Mason's new book A Far Country. It's a meditative story of class, migration, isolation, and poverty. Mason again writes in beautiful lyrical prose. This is a more simple story than Piano Tuner, but important in it's message. At times I found the story drag and a bit flat. We know it takes place in an undisclosed South American country, but we don't know for sure when it was. It was either in More...
Jun 22, 2011
Judith
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Daniel Mason is a magical writer. His words conjure a land of hardship and traditions, of longing and survival. Still, the longer I read the story of young Isabel who leaves the drought of the inlands, to go and look for her brother in the city, the more the story seemed to somehow lose its charm. I guess I am not fit for the harsh realities of city life.
Aug 10, 2011
Finished!! I could not find the point to this book, no defined period, no defined area. The main character is suppose to have a second sight, but that was lacking. It felt like I was reading a first draft that was proving to shape up to a fantastic storyline. I just kept waiting for something to really happen. I am not giving it a rating.
May 17, 2011
Kylee
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This book doesn't have a lot of historical context. The story of the girl traveling into the city from the country is not an old one, so the first thought is that this story happens in the past, but very modern ideas come up, and it becomes clear that this book actually takes place at an unspecified time and place in the present. It's then that the reader reaches the chilling realization that stories like this still happen. Isabel's experiences in the backlands with the drought and with the roug
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Jul 11, 2011
ingrid
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A story set somewhere like Peru, involving the impoverished population who leave their rural homes due to starvation and set off for the big city, only to find they are regarded as undesirables and have EXTREMELY limited opportunities, necessitating living in shanty towns. It resonated for me as I was in Peru last year and visited a shantytown. Very well written, good characters.
Aug 04, 2008
April
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I picked this book up the other day since I was in the bookstore and had a gift card. I read the reviews after I got home and they were not so good. However, I REALLY enjoyed the book.
The imagery and descriptions in this book were amazing. It is the story of a young girl presumably somewhere in South America who is sent to the city by her parents after years of droughts and hunger. She is following her brother there.
I usually get very bored when books seem to be overly descriptive. B More...
The imagery and descriptions in this book were amazing. It is the story of a young girl presumably somewhere in South America who is sent to the city by her parents after years of droughts and hunger. She is following her brother there.
I usually get very bored when books seem to be overly descriptive. B More...
Feb 13, 2010
Lucy
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Great writing! About a girl growing up in rural South America. After a drought lasting a few years her parents send her away to the city where they think she'll find work and be better off. It follows her experience for the next few years as she travels the long distance to live with her cousin in the city and try to make a new life there. I'd recommend it to anyone!
Jan 25, 2010
Sarah
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I listened to the unabridged audio version of this adult novel and I was impressed, but I'm not sure if my students would be. This would be a great classroom novel to show what life is like in third world countries, but isn't something many students would pick up on their own.[return]Isabel was born in sugar cane country and grew up poor and hungry. She has a connection with her brother Isaias and is able to sense him in the cane and always find him. Then her brother runs away to the city to fin
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Jun 03, 2011
Dgoll
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This book is well written, the characters beautifully drawn but the story was just not that interesting. Perhaps I am spoiled by his fabulous book The Piano Tuner which was about as perfect as a novel gets, but this book just didn't do it for me. It probably would have made for an excellent short story.
Aug 08, 2011
Rosslyn
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A story that feels like it should be told - a cultural clash between the "backlands" and the "settlements" of the city. A story set against poverty and drought. Yet the narrative felt laboured both in content and style and consequently I struggled to get into it.
Jul 26, 2011
Catherine
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I loved parts of this, but overall it is a very depressing book without much plot or character growth. I listened to it on audio, and was mesmerized by the reader. If I'd actually been reading the book, I probably would have quit after the first few chapters.
Dec 30, 2008
Tyson
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Daniel Mason's first novel astounded me and I have been anzxioulsy awaiting this novel. It's about a girl from an improverished rural area who moves to the icty. The counrty is not specified, though it appears to be latin america. I thought of Brazil as I read it, though there are clues that it is a spanish speaking country. It describes the narrator's live of severe poverty and her search for her brother in the City (Rio?). The plot unfolds gracefully and Mason's attention to personal, emot
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Aug 18, 2011
Kim
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Just kinda strange. For the first few chapters was wondering where in the heck it was set, then realized it was somewhere that doesn't really exist. First world meets third world. The depression era meets current day. Rather eerie and depressing.
