This wasn't what I hoped it would be -- i.e., a cracking good Edwardian ghost story. What it IS, however, is pretty interesting. The narrator is a you...moreThis wasn't what I hoped it would be -- i.e., a cracking good Edwardian ghost story. What it IS, however, is pretty interesting. The narrator is a young man partially crippled in an accident, who is a guest at a manor-house party. One of the rooms is purported to be haunted, and over the course of the story various people expound their religious views to him and have encounters with the ghost (hence the "gospel of" designation for the chapters). Everyone's reaction to the ghost seems to be strongly determined by his or her outlook on life and God -- from the host, who is witty, cynical atheist and never meets the ghost at all, to a lady who dabbles in spiritualism and trendy beliefs and is utterly horrified by it, to a smug worldly canon who finds out how shallow his faith really is.
Throughout the book everyone refers to the titular Cecelia de Noel, a "peculiar" lady who endears herself to everyone through her boundless empathy for others, and who finally arrives and has her own ghost encounter. The narrator never meets the ghost himself, but only sees its after-effects on others, and nothing is spooky about the book in the least.
So, it's all a big religious allegory, but an extremely well-written and readable one. I've never encountered anything quite like it, although it does seem to fit into the Chesterton/C.S. Lewis eccentricity of its time. I knocked off a star because the "everyone our hero meets talks about God" structure eventually strained my credulity, and because the character of Cecelia is soppy and implausible. But maybe that's my own cynical atheist self talking!(less)
Unimpressive haunted house novel with story-within-the-story gimmick -- a couple of the stories aren't bad, but the main narrative with horror author...moreUnimpressive haunted house novel with story-within-the-story gimmick -- a couple of the stories aren't bad, but the main narrative with horror author inviting kid writers to spend the night in a haunted house never works. The author never makes sense as a character, and the writing is flat. (less)
Lesser Jeeves tale -- one loses a lot by not having Bertie Wooster narrate! Also, the '50s are less congenial ground for Wodehouse than the '20s and '...moreLesser Jeeves tale -- one loses a lot by not having Bertie Wooster narrate! Also, the '50s are less congenial ground for Wodehouse than the '20s and '30s. But still laugh-out-loud funny. (less)
I just love Orlean's voice, and that whole New Yorker style of essay. I agree with many other reviewers that the third section of this book, which con...moreI just love Orlean's voice, and that whole New Yorker style of essay. I agree with many other reviewers that the third section of this book, which consists of snippet-length humor pieces and snapshots, doesn't fit well with the rest of the content -- but it's all tremendously well-done. She is consistently open-minded and interested in everyone, even people like the baby-pageant mommies she talked to in the mid-'90s, and Thomas Kinkade (even though he comes across as nutty and arrogant, as one would expect knowing how things ended up for him).(less)
Not as much fun as I hoped it would be. The plot is just silly and implausible. I mean, OK, it's about a monster eating people in a museum, so I'm not...moreNot as much fun as I hoped it would be. The plot is just silly and implausible. I mean, OK, it's about a monster eating people in a museum, so I'm not expecting a documentary here -- but even so the security scheme is ludicrous and it relies far too heavily on the Idiot Plot. The characters are thin and too much time is spent on people skulking around gathering information. On the other hand, Preston's background with the museum means that his descriptions of the building and what goes on in the areas off-limits to the public are excellent and atmospheric.
The other Preston/Child I've read was much better than this one, so I guess they hit their stride as they went along.(less)
I expected this to be charming, light-hearted and self-deprecating, so I was a little surprised at how mean-spirited it got. Oh, a guy has a high-tech...moreI expected this to be charming, light-hearted and self-deprecating, so I was a little surprised at how mean-spirited it got. Oh, a guy has a high-tech portable weather-station thingie! I must mock him to his face! It is very readable, though not as funny as I had been led to believe it would be, and I ended up liking Stephen Katz tremendously. What a good sport!(less)
I'm at the very outset -- so far this is reading like a Shogun carbon-copy, but in 1600's India instead of Japan. Once again, those wily Portuguese go...moreI'm at the very outset -- so far this is reading like a Shogun carbon-copy, but in 1600's India instead of Japan. Once again, those wily Portuguese got there first!
Finished -- yep, it's Shogun, but with a less-interesting protagonist, weaker characters, and lots of didactic dialogue. Also tantric sex, black plague, and people being executed by elephant. It was still fun to read, but a bit on the trashy side.(less)
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