Michael > Recent Status Updates

Splendid writing. Very direct and efficient. The clash of the characters' worldviews is really well treated (until the mechanics of the romantic comedy takes over).

Splendid writing. Very direct and efficient. The clash of the characters' worldviews is really well-done (until the mechanics of the romantic comedy takes over).

Just finished part one, three more to go. If the rest is as good, then this is one of the most important novels in the late XXth Century.

Just finished part one, three more to go. If the rest is as good, then this is one of the most important books in the late XXth Century.

Well, it's pretty good actually!

It's good, but far from the perfection Roth reached later. I find that reassuring.

It's good, but far from the perfection achieved later. I find it reassuring.

Definitely to be read at a slow pace, almost each page yielding a gem of an insight.

From the ISBN, looks like this is Vol. II in the 3-volume series I'm reading. Unbelievable that no-one on goodreads seems to have read this masterpiece.

(soon as I get the rights to do it -- librarian, shmibrarian -- I'll be sure to update the info for the three volumes of this excellent book.)

Surprisingly gripping, possibly because it is action-oriented, but also because the alternation between the character's successes and failures keeps us on edge, wanting to know what's next. Similarly, I believe that the uneasy mix of our natural tendency to empathize with a character and, on the other hand, the amoral attitude of the character keeps us in a position where we'd like to know what's going on.

I loved the beginning. But then, why does it have to become longish as it goes on? Why do writers, even first-rate writers such as Le Carré, need to be longer that is necessary?

Non-fiction of the most entertaining and educating kind.

Very, very impressive.