Gwendalynn Anders, a mid-Western girl who's never seen the ocean, wonders what was in that joint she smoked a week before waking up on Elysiana,... read full description
reviews
Dec 17, 2011
Christina (Reading Thru The Night)
rated it: 
Elysiana was marketed as a postmodern novel centering around an eccentric group of individuals located on the coastal shores of New Jersey in the late 60's. Obviously, between that one liner and the cover, I was intrigued.
So what of it? I'm having mega trouble reviewing this one because overall I wasn't impressed, but . . .
. . . there's always a *BUT* isn't there?
First things first. I've never read anything by Knopf, but from what I've seen in the netosphere, he's a More...
So what of it? I'm having mega trouble reviewing this one because overall I wasn't impressed, but . . .
. . . there's always a *BUT* isn't there?
First things first. I've never read anything by Knopf, but from what I've seen in the netosphere, he's a More...
Jun 08, 2010
Steve
rated it: 
I've read all Chris Knopf's Sam Acquillo mysteries and love his voice and ironic humor. Elysiana is less a mystery and more literary/mainstream, but every bit as much fun.
Knopf writes solid and feisty female characters, much like Thomas Perry, Don Winslow, or Carl Hiaasen, and here he gives us Gwendalynne, who recovers from a three-day acid trip to find herself on a small island (Elysiana, the title setting) off the New Jersey coast in the summer of 1969.
She ends up ba More...
Knopf writes solid and feisty female characters, much like Thomas Perry, Don Winslow, or Carl Hiaasen, and here he gives us Gwendalynne, who recovers from a three-day acid trip to find herself on a small island (Elysiana, the title setting) off the New Jersey coast in the summer of 1969.
She ends up ba More...
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May 27, 2010
Sheila
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The sea has a rhythm and music all its own, and can sound like an orchestra as a storm blows up, the quiet piping of ripples slowly overwhelmed by massive drum-rolls and ominous strings that ride in on the wind.
Elysiana by Chris Knopf reads with that same music and rhythm. The instruments are strangers and friends collected on this tiny island off the coast of South Jersey, and the first sweet notes are sounded by a girl from Chicago, brought in through a drug-filled haze in a strang More...
Elysiana by Chris Knopf reads with that same music and rhythm. The instruments are strangers and friends collected on this tiny island off the coast of South Jersey, and the first sweet notes are sounded by a girl from Chicago, brought in through a drug-filled haze in a strang More...
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Mar 21, 2011
Beth
rated it: 
In Elsynia, Chris Knopf successfully develops a cast of colorful characters, intricately woven within a tale of mystery and suspense. He tells a story of a 1960's drug and alcohol induced summer on a small island off the South Jersey Shore. In the background, the pulse of a developing hurricane increases, as does the unfolding story of a corrupt local government official and the lives of those he tries to destroy. However, as Knopf''s plot development moves towards its conclusion, it begins
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Apr 15, 2010
Becky
rated it:
I actually would like to give this book a 3.5. I enjoyed the character development, and found myself drawn into their lives. I kept forgetting this was set in the 70's though. There would be a reference to Vietnam, or beach boy's song and I would then remember the time period I was supposed to be reminded of. I guess I should have remembered with all the drug references, but not so much. Over all I liked how all the stories really wove around each other and came together in the end, and yet
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Dec 21, 2010
Sheri
rated it:
Elysiana (Chris Knopf)
Set in 1969 on Elysiana, off the coast of New Jersey. Gwendalyn Anders is a young "Hippie" after a night of partying she wakes up and heads to Elysiana with no looking back. Jack Halcyon suffered a horrible accident leaving part of his brain missing. He returns to the Island.Norman Harlan is the Borough council man and he is at odds with the captain of the beach Patrol , Avery Volpe. Their lives all merge together on Elysia Island.
Fast paced novel, More...
Set in 1969 on Elysiana, off the coast of New Jersey. Gwendalyn Anders is a young "Hippie" after a night of partying she wakes up and heads to Elysiana with no looking back. Jack Halcyon suffered a horrible accident leaving part of his brain missing. He returns to the Island.Norman Harlan is the Borough council man and he is at odds with the captain of the beach Patrol , Avery Volpe. Their lives all merge together on Elysia Island.
Fast paced novel, More...
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Apr 30, 2010
Silver
rated it:
Elysiana should be commended for its unconventionality and the way in which it captures the essence of modernism. It is in many ways a rather bold book which challenges more traditional ways of writing. It is a book which one the hand has a gritty realism to it, yet on the other hand is touched by moments of the surreal creating an underlining dark humor.
The story focuses around a group of unusual characters who are all living upon the small New Jersey island of Elysiana, which at t More...
The story focuses around a group of unusual characters who are all living upon the small New Jersey island of Elysiana, which at t More...
Feb 12, 2011
Angela
rated it: 
The blurb on the back cover of this bound galley intrigued me: "...both a hurtling thriller and postmodernist jaunt through the summer of 1969..." After making a valiant effort (I put it down and came back to it three times), I'm here to tell you this novel may be postmodern, whatever that may mean, but it is definitely not hurtling, and not a thriller.
Let me tell you the good things. The novel opens with great promise and one of the best introductions to a character I've eve More...
Let me tell you the good things. The novel opens with great promise and one of the best introductions to a character I've eve More...
May 11, 2010
Irene
rated it:
Set on a mythical barrier island off New Jersey in 1969, Elysiana suggests an idyllic summer retreat. The welcome mat belies the genuine point of view of a socially maladjusted town whose disillusioned inhabitants begin their annual war with tourists, surfers, hippies who missed the ride to Woodstock, and specifically each other.
Unconventional conglomeration of town council president, mayor, beach patrol, and drug dealer volley for exalted status with cavalier contempt thrust upon ca More...
Unconventional conglomeration of town council president, mayor, beach patrol, and drug dealer volley for exalted status with cavalier contempt thrust upon ca More...
Jul 22, 2011
Elysiana
rated it:
well the title was nice its of course my name but when i red reviews of what happened I felt offeneded that things were happening i know its not really me in the book but it my name when i read something with my name on it i feel like it me so Chris Knopf cool book butt it looks scary and im not scary so yea its awesome u made a book but it kind of a weird one.
Jun 19, 2010
Susie
rated it:
I won this on Good Reads. I was a little slow getting into the story as the characters are are fairly eccentric. Once I read further into the book I found it quite interesting. The characters of this East coast town can likely be found in most any town, but here we meet them all at once. Interesting character studies. I haven't read any other of Chris Knopf's books but will be interested to try one.
May 29, 2010
Kristy
rated it:
This is a solid novel about a varied group of unusual characters who all find themselves on the New Jersey barrier island of Elysiana in the summer of 1969. Drug addled, brain damaged, gun crazy, or right wing nutsos, each character fits nicely into the intricate puzzle plot of the novel. While enjoyable to read, I never really got carried away by the story or the characters, but as a quick and fun novel, this does the trick.
Apr 04, 2010
Georgiann
rated it:
Elysiana is an island off the coast of New Jersey . Its a place of beauty shared by some very unique people.Gwendalynn is a midwestern girl who never saw the ocean Jack was in a car accident and in a coma for 4 years he lost a big part of his brain, Normab Harlan is the borough president and he is at odds with Avery Volpe. Its an interesting look into the past with a little thiller aspect in it. where everyone from cops, to criminals finds themselves at the mercy of the province.
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Oct 19, 2010
Zaiga
rated it:
I don't know what to think. It says "thriller" on the jacket, but didn't exactly have the break-neck pace I usually associate with thrillers. It meandered quite a bit. All of the characters were quirky. The two the author expects you to root for live relatively happily ever after. I did like Jack's musings on what it was like to be in a coma and come out of it.
Apr 12, 2010
Linda
rated it:
I was not impressed with this book by Chirs Knopf, set in an island off New Jersey, has an oddball cast of characters whom you never really get close too. Set in 1969, the summer of the first man on the moon, this is a semi-thriller with a hurricane on the way to throw mother nature into the mix. What's one other thing to deal with?
Jul 26, 2010
Mherriges
rated it:
My first time with this author and I have to say I really enjoyed the characters and the story. Zany story lines and zany times made for a fun summer read!
Mar 31, 2010
Christy
rated it:
If you were a young adult in 1969 and resent getting old you might enjoy this book.
Knopf talks about being young and free and blow jobs and a bunch of self-indulgent crap and he's added another brick to the wall mainstream publishing is building around itself.
Knopf talks about being young and free and blow jobs and a bunch of self-indulgent crap and he's added another brick to the wall mainstream publishing is building around itself.
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Feb 18, 2011
Lauren
rated it:
I wont this in the giveaway, my first win! So exciting.
I am maybe a quarter of the way into the book... its not a page turner, but I do think i'll finish it. the first several pages, I suppose to illustrate how the girl got to NJ, and how shitty it is to be a drug addict, etc.... were a little graphic and unnecessary. I'm hoping at least one of the characters grows on me, or I won't be able to finish it...
I am maybe a quarter of the way into the book... its not a page turner, but I do think i'll finish it. the first several pages, I suppose to illustrate how the girl got to NJ, and how shitty it is to be a drug addict, etc.... were a little graphic and unnecessary. I'm hoping at least one of the characters grows on me, or I won't be able to finish it...
Dec 21, 2010
Richard
rated it:
Fun read, especially if you're from Philadelphia and/or if you've spent any time at the Jersey Shore. Fast paced, plenty of sex, drugs, deceit.
Dec 31, 2011
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