Jason's review

[close]

blog this review

Copy/paste the text below into your blog. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16707.Wonder_Boys?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Wonder Boys" border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1166740697m/16707.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16707.Wonder_Boys?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Wonder Boys</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2715.Michael_Chabon">Michael Chabon</a><br/><br/> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18399918?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a> rating: 5 of 5 stars<br/>i started this the other day simply because i picked it up and started reading the opening pages...it immediately grabbed me and i wanted to continue... <br/>good sign yes?... <br/>i forced myself to put it down until i finish what i'm currently in the middle of... <br/> <br/>this guy can write as though he sold his soul to the devil... <br/>i can't go two paragraphs without shaking my head in amazement...two examples from like the first five pages: <br/> <br/>"i had the vague impression that my oldest friend was speaking to me in tones of anger and remonstrance, his words just blew by me, like curling scraps of excelsior and fish wrap, and i waved at them as they passed by." <br/> <br/>"i knew i shouldn't have, but i did it all the same; and there you have my epitaph. or one of them, because my grave is going to require a monument inscribed on all four sides with rueful mottoes, in small characters, set close together." <br/> <br/>it's the word choice, the construction of the sentences, the mood, the rythym...prose and poetry combined to create damn fine literature... <br/>it makes me desire fervently that i had a shred of similar ability, but also makes me grateful that someone out there can create at this level... <br/>i'm very much looking forward to this book... <br/> <br/>first impressions: <br/>i could write a lot about this book...which is problematic for me as i don't really think it's necessary for me to embark on a detailed analysis of every book i read.. <br/>but who cares...no one will read this anyway... <br/>the structure of the book fits very nicely with the flow of the narrative because neither of them have any structure to speak of...no formal chapter divisions, no book I, book II, etc...the text just begins after the title page (similar to a certain main character's style of writing) and a small epigram from joseph conrad...which merits close examination for clues into the overarching theme of this story... <br/>the title is particularly interesting as well, as titles are an important part of the narrative and this particular choice raises some intriguing thoughts... <br/>i need to finish it, 40 pages to go, then i'll complete my thoughts on it... <br/>so far this book is marvelous... <br/> <br/>final impressions: <br/>what a FANTASTIC BOOK!!!! if i could give it more than five stars i would... <br/>this entire story hinges on a TUBA!!! <br/> <br/>the burden of things that we don't choose, but find their way into our lives, and we carry them nonetheless... <br/>a brilliant, moving, unforgettable book...one i will read again... <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/933518?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>