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just_jack's review against another edition
3.25
There is a really cool and interesting story here, but it doesn’t always come together in a cohesive and engaging novel.
The chapters weren’t linear, which is likely a specific stylistic choice because of the story telling aspect of it, but I feel like it hindered the enjoyment and engagement for the reader.
Also why was this book so horny? Like dude is writing about his grandmothers boobs and his grandfathers jizz. Some unnecessary vulgarity too, I’m all for swearing but using the C word for no reason does seem like a bit much.
The chapters weren’t linear, which is likely a specific stylistic choice because of the story telling aspect of it, but I feel like it hindered the enjoyment and engagement for the reader.
Also why was this book so horny? Like dude is writing about his grandmothers boobs and his grandfathers jizz. Some unnecessary vulgarity too, I’m all for swearing but using the C word for no reason does seem like a bit much.
brig_berthold's review
2.0
MOONGLOW
This is my second experience with Chabon, and it won't be my last...probably.
1) Kavalier and Clay was SO GREAT I likely expected too much from this book.
2) This is autobiography meets fiction which can be awesome when veiled. This was anything but veiled...which should work, but it didn't for me. The plot was really choppy, which was by design, I'm sure. That's where it got a fictional style and flair. Otherwise, it would have read as a narrative history and that would have been just plain boring. Because it's "fiction" we get to see Chabon do his thing a bit. Vivid details, exquisite descriptions, and geriatric sex. He just isn't going to cut that out, is he?
3) I'm not a space-enthusiast. To me, the final frontier is—well—death and I just don't care for the obsession with space travel, rockets, and that stuff. That's not Chabon's fault, by the way, I'm to blame there.
4) Early in the story, it flowed the way I hoped it would. I expected a meandering experience with a gentle start and a nice, soft landing into the finish. What I got was an excellent Chabonesque opening and a finale that seemed rushed, or bored, or fed up. Almost as though Chabon himself couldn't wait to put down the book. That would have been a major buzzkill if I had been buzzing at all.
5) Spies. I love spy stories. I love stories with mere tertiary spy angles. I love stories where kids run around pretending to be spies while they wait for dinner. This book presented Wild Bill Donovan and all I got was a rinky-dink story about a V2 rocket and a priest discovered in Europe; which, by the way NEVER WENT ANYWHERE! I'm a little pissed about the spy thing.
6) Is this speculative history? Yes. Is this reconstructionist? Yes. Is this family dirty laundry? Who f***ing knows.
This is my second experience with Chabon, and it won't be my last...probably.
1) Kavalier and Clay was SO GREAT I likely expected too much from this book.
2) This is autobiography meets fiction which can be awesome when veiled. This was anything but veiled...which should work, but it didn't for me. The plot was really choppy, which was by design, I'm sure. That's where it got a fictional style and flair. Otherwise, it would have read as a narrative history and that would have been just plain boring. Because it's "fiction" we get to see Chabon do his thing a bit. Vivid details, exquisite descriptions, and geriatric sex. He just isn't going to cut that out, is he?
3) I'm not a space-enthusiast. To me, the final frontier is—well—death and I just don't care for the obsession with space travel, rockets, and that stuff. That's not Chabon's fault, by the way, I'm to blame there.
4) Early in the story, it flowed the way I hoped it would. I expected a meandering experience with a gentle start and a nice, soft landing into the finish. What I got was an excellent Chabonesque opening and a finale that seemed rushed, or bored, or fed up. Almost as though Chabon himself couldn't wait to put down the book. That would have been a major buzzkill if I had been buzzing at all.
5) Spies. I love spy stories. I love stories with mere tertiary spy angles. I love stories where kids run around pretending to be spies while they wait for dinner. This book presented Wild Bill Donovan and all I got was a rinky-dink story about a V2 rocket and a priest discovered in Europe; which, by the way NEVER WENT ANYWHERE! I'm a little pissed about the spy thing.
6) Is this speculative history? Yes. Is this reconstructionist? Yes. Is this family dirty laundry? Who f***ing knows.
peh1993's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jslive's review
4.0
A great clash of genres and storytelling devices around an American life (but I was bored for about a third)
shybane's review
5.0
I'm going to make one of those brazen statements that you regret two or three years later, when his next novel is a complete clunker of text. But, six or seven novels in, for the most part, he has never let me down. So, I feel pretty confident in writing this. At least, I think I am. Ah, to hell with it - Michael Chabon is the great novelist of my generation. There, written in bold. That denotes some confidence. I say this tonight and tomorrow when I start my next read, it may be someone different. But, for now, I'm going to bask in the glory of his greatness.
His language and his voice, sooooo goooood. It compels you to read (the power of voice compels you to read!) He is a master of storytelling and right now, I can think of no one that does it better. And, since I'm writing this to myself, no can argue. No one to twitter flame me. I can make any audacious statement I choose. Piss off.
So much about this book is stunning. The texture he creates with each word he chooses. These words that evoke visceral emotion and create such vivid imagery - yes! Just, yes. Chabon knows the nature of humanity and creates fantastic, simple characters in amazing, realist backdrops. We all know the disappointment when our heroes let us down. But, in the backdrop of WWII amongst the brutally murdered corpses layered upon one another... For this, I have no words. Simplistically, it is anger. If you've read the novel, you know that of which I speak.
Moonglow is a faux memoir of Chabon visiting his dying grandfathers bedside and having stories of his grandfathers past regaled upon upon him. These are stories that entertain and horrify. They each bounce from the past to the present, to the not so distant past. Or from the present to the past, to the not so distant past. Fortunately, Michael Chabon navigates the time travels deftly. Whether we travel from the WWII to a retirement village in Florida, or from grandfather's bed side to the 70's post space race, we are in good hands.
Anyone else have this chuckle? Toward the end of the space race, right before the arms race, when the idea of colonizing the moon was just within reach, but instead the space shuttle program was begun; instead of astronauts, they'd be hiring truck drivers. Sorry, it just struck me as funny
The novels references in era, often called the greatest growth in the human race. It also subtly points out at what cost. Moonglow is brilliant. It's clever and flawless. Like I said, I might wake up feeling differently with another book in hand. (It's the marvel of literature, every book you pick up may be your next favorite)
I'll end with a clip:
Mr. Chabon, this is something that will never be said about you.
His language and his voice, sooooo goooood. It compels you to read (the power of voice compels you to read!) He is a master of storytelling and right now, I can think of no one that does it better. And, since I'm writing this to myself, no can argue. No one to twitter flame me. I can make any audacious statement I choose. Piss off.
So much about this book is stunning. The texture he creates with each word he chooses. These words that evoke visceral emotion and create such vivid imagery - yes! Just, yes. Chabon knows the nature of humanity and creates fantastic, simple characters in amazing, realist backdrops. We all know the disappointment when our heroes let us down. But, in the backdrop of WWII amongst the brutally murdered corpses layered upon one another... For this, I have no words. Simplistically, it is anger. If you've read the novel, you know that of which I speak.
Moonglow is a faux memoir of Chabon visiting his dying grandfathers bedside and having stories of his grandfathers past regaled upon upon him. These are stories that entertain and horrify. They each bounce from the past to the present, to the not so distant past. Or from the present to the past, to the not so distant past. Fortunately, Michael Chabon navigates the time travels deftly. Whether we travel from the WWII to a retirement village in Florida, or from grandfather's bed side to the 70's post space race, we are in good hands.
Anyone else have this chuckle? Toward the end of the space race, right before the arms race, when the idea of colonizing the moon was just within reach, but instead the space shuttle program was begun; instead of astronauts, they'd be hiring truck drivers. Sorry, it just struck me as funny
The novels references in era, often called the greatest growth in the human race. It also subtly points out at what cost. Moonglow is brilliant. It's clever and flawless. Like I said, I might wake up feeling differently with another book in hand. (It's the marvel of literature, every book you pick up may be your next favorite)
I'll end with a clip:
You try to take advantage of the time you have. That's what they tell you to do. But when you're old, you look back and you see all you did with all that time is wasted. All you have is a story of things you never started or couldn't finish.
Mr. Chabon, this is something that will never be said about you.
mamanewtnewt's review against another edition
Bit dull and don’t like the whole some of it is fiction and some of it is true vibe.
labeanorita's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thelarch's review
Nothing terribly wrong with this book, just not feeling it right now
iancarpenter's review
1.0
85 pages in I’ve abandoned it. There’s something so peachy keen and wholesome about this. It feels like a kid’s book for adults.
lambsears's review
3.0
This is the first Chabon book I've read, but I can't say I'm swept away by him.
This is a fictionalised memoir, where the historical sections are fact, but the rest is fiction (I think).
In general, I found it long-winded and just plain dead boring in parts. The narrative leaps about, with no real chronological order and way too many digressions for my liking. It's all a bit too clever, with loads of historical references that I may or may not have heard about but, unlike in many other works I've read, didn't care enough about to follow up. On the other hand, I find myself now knowing more about rockets and the space race than I ever felt was necessary.
Perhaps this is one for Chabon fans, but it has failed to create one here.
This is a fictionalised memoir, where the historical sections are fact, but the rest is fiction (I think).
In general, I found it long-winded and just plain dead boring in parts. The narrative leaps about, with no real chronological order and way too many digressions for my liking. It's all a bit too clever, with loads of historical references that I may or may not have heard about but, unlike in many other works I've read, didn't care enough about to follow up. On the other hand, I find myself now knowing more about rockets and the space race than I ever felt was necessary.
Perhaps this is one for Chabon fans, but it has failed to create one here.