Daniel’s review of Transcription: A Novel > Likes and Comments

Thank you for this review, Daniel. I plan to read this book and your comparison with Audition raised my interest as well. Even the titles sound similar. Though personally I hope Lerner is a just a bit more cerebral and coherent that Kitamura. But I know we've already had a wonderful discussion about it. So no need to come back to that:-)

A much sharper analysis than I managed on it. In fact, I wish I read your "Introduction" before reading Lerner's Transcript(-ion). In a word: Nice!

I was thinking about you when I wrote this, Katia. I wondered if you would read this book and if you would like it.Actually, you might find this more cerebral than Kitamura. I liked Kitamura more because I was dialed into the performative and theatrical aspects of her book.But this book has a great deal of substance if you can get by the abrupt changes of venue.Having said that, the three sections hang together thematically.So nice hearing from you.

Thanks for the kind words, Ken.I circled back and read your excellent review and wished that I had read it before attempting this book. What a world.

Daniel, this sounds like a rather challenging work to read, but your review explained its structure and coherence well.

Thanks, Laysee. It was challenging to read and I found it difficult to review.

Thanks for the heads up about this new novel, Daniel.
Your review is very insightful. The book does seem complicated, like a long, twisted poem.
I associate Lerner with poetry. I remember Mean Free Path from years ago.

I forgot about that, Cheryl. That is an interesting viewpoint.

Daniel,
Do you think it was the author's goal, to create an ethereal feel here?

That is a great point/question, Julie. I would probably say yes.The novel is all over the place, filled with more than I have described. Considering the elusive nature of processing and transcribing information and the delicacy of parent son relationships….I would say yes it was a goal. My choice of ghosts as a descriptor of the book reflects at least some of the author’s intentions IMO.

Thanks. That makes sense!
You just put me in mind of the one Jodi Picoult book I enjoyed: SECOND GLANCE. It was "otherworldly" without being silly, if you know what I mean. Our book club went through a Jodi Picoult phase, in the early years, probably because her career was so hot at the time. She seems Superhuman about producing bestsellers. Anyway, I'm rambling. That story stuck with me, because it felt respectful and worthy of what we deem "mystical."