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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/613744.The_Solitudes?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Solitudes" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vvoC2mTnL._SL160_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/613744.The_Solitudes?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Solitudes</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52074.John_Crowley">John Crowley</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15407652?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 4 of 5 stars I've never before come to the end of book and been unsure of whether or not I liked it. I'm intrigued by it. I'd even say fascinated, or, perhaps, compelled is a better word. There is so much to think about. What is the meaning of history? What if there are multiple, real histories (not just multiple historical interpretations) that lie next to each other, like folds in one piece of cloth? Especially for someone who studied history, this is fascinating book for its questions. For someone who loves clever books, it is compelling because of the structure of the narrative, like those folds in the cloth. Crowley is using the histories to tell the stories of the protagonist, the contemporary (and recently deceased) historian, the subjects of the histories, written about both in fiction and as History, and the people around all of them. There's even a very clever play on names, resulting in questions of identity and assumptions...
 
 I'm not sure I like this book - Pierce Moffet, our hero, doesn't do anything for me - but Crowley is so brilliant that I want to keep reading. I'm impressed and inspired by his ability.
 
 There is an interesting publishing history to this novel (and the other three in the series). Originally titled, Aegypt, this book has been out of print for decades. It is nearly impossible to find, and it was heavy edited on its original publication. I think the publishing industry didn't know what to make of it. It's back in print, thanks to a small press out of Woodstock, NY, but still I had a hard time finding it. The bookseller where I finally tracked it to had it in the science fiction section, although it doesn't advertise itself as such. If you like to be challenged by a book, I recommend this one highly.
 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/629344?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Elizabeth's review
rating:
bookshelves: 2008, twentieth-century-late

I've never before come to the end of book and been unsure of whether or not I liked it. I'm intrigued by it. I'd even say fascinated, or, perhaps, compelled is a better word. There is so much to think about. What is the meaning of history? What if there are multiple, real histories (not just multiple historical interpretations) that lie next to each other, like folds in one piece of cloth? Especially for someone who studied history, this is fascinating book for its questions. For someone who loves clever books, it is compelling because of the structure of the narrative, like those folds in the cloth. Crowley is using the histories to tell the stories of the protagonist, the contemporary (and recently deceased) historian, the subjects of the histories, written about both in fiction and as History, and the people around all of them. There's even a very clever play on names, resulting in questions of identity and assumptions...

I'm not sure I like this book - Pierc...more

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message 1: by Garnette

03/05/2008 08:24AM

Reading Elizabeth's comments on the work of Crowley prompted me to search the Mid Hudson Library system. (It covers five counties) Only one Crowley. On the other hand, if I buy one, (which would be breaking a covenant not to buy books because I now have too many to move by myself) which one would it be?