Jonathan K (Max Outlier) > Recent Status Updates

If I'm not mistaken Silva uses the terrorist character, Saladin in other books. And needless to say the band of spies are regulars too. What's amazing is how prolific he is with character creation and their associated back stories. Boggles the mind how fluent he is with creativity

Even the early Allon stories show the author's prowess with pace, plot and premise, a quality he's been known for over decades

Fascinating and reminiscent of the Elephant Whisperer though unique in its own right

Remarkable how skilled a writer Haskell is sharing factual elements that come across as fictional. The first chapter about the Ciebo tree in the Amazon is fascinating since its so huge it hosts its own ecological environment of plants, animals, insects and fungi. And the insects are extremely dangerous

Returning to Silva is a refresher course in mystery, his addictive storytelling momentum on it's own.

The maestro of mystery whose pacing is as masterful as the plot

Having taken a long break from Silva it's fun to return to the twists and turns of Gabriel Allon and his band of spies..

I'll be honest saying as debut novels go this is disappointing. Characters are flat and predictable and the story lacks an immersive quality. And while somewhat unique, the pace is sluggish. Short 2 star review tomorrow

Another 5 star review tomorrow.. For those who understand and appreciate the value of writing at this level, I urge you to read his books

Yet another masterpiece of literary fiction from the soul of Wallace Stegner. These stories are so immersive and evocative the lyrical narratives cause introspection. As with the Spectator Bird, themes of love, friendship and connection rise to the surface. It's difficult to put into words, their impact

One of the more remarkable stories of friendship ever written. Inspired doesn't begin to describe his talents

Probably a mistake to read a debut novel and another written by a Pulitzer winner. No offense but this author could learn a lot about storytelling if he read Stegner

One of the more lackluster books I've read, it's sloggy pacing and repetitive dialog failing to keep interest

I'd have to say that between the two I've read this is the lesser of them.

To wit.. " Human lives seldom conform to the convictions of fiction. Chekhov says that it is in the beginnings and endings of stories that we are most tempted to lie. I know what that means and I agree.."

A good author writes what he knows or passionate about and this one knows all about writing, books, publishing and what it takes which is why his stories are outstanding

For all those who feel unrequited love in a marriage is essential I urge you to read this and The Spectator Bird since the couples are the sort that resonate with one thing only. Unconditional love above all else

Mediocre at best.

I find it a bit odd how the author takes Odile, the main character who is a teen in the first part then in the second jumps 20 years forward in time. While there is mention of how she drops out of the program due to the death of a friend, it's strange

We need more stories of remarkable friendships like these!

One of the numerous things I enjoy about Stegner is his conviction to books and writing. Characters are either authors, agents or publishers and if not, read voraciously. But it's his lyrical prose as well

A doctorate in philosophy and post doctorate from Harvard aren't what we typically see with fiction authors though his work is emotional memory and literature adds up

I find a slight similarity between this and The Giver due to the mystery of what lies outside the valley the story takes place though it's clear the time frames are different

It's interesting that there are professors that teach Wallace Stegner as a course which speaks highly of his accomplishments as author and humanitarian

The author has a terrific grasp of the language and phrases used in New England in the late 30s. So much so, its an education in itself. And his manner of telling the story of Sid and Charity is wonderful

Overall I'd say it's mediocre since characters lack engagement and plot is a bit predictable. But debut novels are always welcome

Marvelous! Relatable characters, unique plot and most importantly quotes, poems and excerpts from the minds of literary people. Stegner pays homage to authors known and unknown

Early on, it's no surprise that Stegner pens narrative that rivals the best, his inspired insights of hope the foundation. Brilliant does not begin to describe his talents

Definitely fantasy..three valleys in an unknown French area; one is the present, one the past and the other the future..the girl applies for a counseil position and if accepted evaluates requests for those seeking to move to one of the other valleys..its a bit slow. Also noticing many of the newer authors/publishers eliminate dialog punctuation..

Another debut novel from an author with strong educational credentials, though the skill to engage readers isn't related to coursework..so far so good