momwrex's review against another edition
2.0
Could not finish. I love books. I love history. It just became a slog. I may try reading it again in the future as others rate it highly.
nerdistrob's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ricefun's review against another edition
3.0
I was very enthusiastic when I began reading this book. It was the perfect subject matter and pace for a flight. The first half kept my attention. But I was confused by the frame of the novel. It felt like the storyteller of the book and the storyteller of the story within the book could have been the same person and caused less confusion and unnecessary clarification.
The further I got into the book the less I was interested in picking it up and finishing it. The bookseller character transformed from interesting and compelling to ho-hum and I had to force myself to finish reading.
I don't think it is a bad novel, and for those of us who love books it is an interesting fictional account of what could have been happening in the publishing business. But altogether I wouldn't recommend this highly.
The further I got into the book the less I was interested in picking it up and finishing it. The bookseller character transformed from interesting and compelling to ho-hum and I had to force myself to finish reading.
I don't think it is a bad novel, and for those of us who love books it is an interesting fictional account of what could have been happening in the publishing business. But altogether I wouldn't recommend this highly.
atarbett's review against another edition
All I can say is "meh" and my To Read pile is too large to put up with "meh" books.
librarian_lisa_22's review against another edition
2.0
I do like Pearl's writing style--but this book couldn't reel me in. I wasn't captivated by the plot or concept and do have to walk away.
ivinklerkomaric's review against another edition
2.0
Buddy Readathon s Anom – 12
Ova knjiga mi je bila kao ona izreka: „Gdje si bio? Nigdje. Što si radio? Ništa.“
Dakle, što sam ja to pročitala? Zaista ne znam. Autor je natrpao ali baš svega i svačega. Prva polovica knjige predosadna. Da nije bila za buddy read, mislim da bih ju ne samo ostavila, nego (da sam čitala papirnatu knjigu) šutnula u smeće. Na pola knjige se nešto počinje i događati, malo povijesti, malo avanture. Svidjelo mi se što opisuje život Roberta Louisa Stevensona (i pitala sam se koliko su to napisano o njemu stvarne činjenice i na kraju knjige sam dobila odgovor). Zbog tih događaja sam čak naginjala dati knjizi 3 zvjezdice, al onda je autor na kraju sve sjebao i odoše moje tri zvjezdice u vjetar. Likovi mi se uopće nisu svidjeli, a i kad mi se jedan od njih pomalo počeo sviđati, autor ga sasiječe u korijenu. Nije mi se svidjelo u kojem smjeru je priča krenula, željela sam drugačiji kraj. I to što se tijekom knjige dogodilo nekoliko zaista iznenađujućih preokreta, nije pomoglo, jer mi se nijedan nije svidio (osim odlaska glavnih likova na Samou), a neki su bili i besmisleni (Fergrinsovo tumaranje po prašumi). Jedva jedvice će zbog Stevensona dobiti dvojku.
Kako neka knjiga o knjigama može biti tako razočaravajuća.
Ova knjiga mi je bila kao ona izreka: „Gdje si bio? Nigdje. Što si radio? Ništa.“
Dakle, što sam ja to pročitala? Zaista ne znam. Autor je natrpao ali baš svega i svačega. Prva polovica knjige predosadna. Da nije bila za buddy read, mislim da bih ju ne samo ostavila, nego (da sam čitala papirnatu knjigu) šutnula u smeće. Na pola knjige se nešto počinje i događati, malo povijesti, malo avanture. Svidjelo mi se što opisuje život Roberta Louisa Stevensona (i pitala sam se koliko su to napisano o njemu stvarne činjenice i na kraju knjige sam dobila odgovor). Zbog tih događaja sam čak naginjala dati knjizi 3 zvjezdice, al onda je autor na kraju sve sjebao i odoše moje tri zvjezdice u vjetar. Likovi mi se uopće nisu svidjeli, a i kad mi se jedan od njih pomalo počeo sviđati, autor ga sasiječe u korijenu. Nije mi se svidjelo u kojem smjeru je priča krenula, željela sam drugačiji kraj. I to što se tijekom knjige dogodilo nekoliko zaista iznenađujućih preokreta, nije pomoglo, jer mi se nijedan nije svidio (osim odlaska glavnih likova na Samou), a neki su bili i besmisleni (Fergrinsovo tumaranje po prašumi). Jedva jedvice će zbog Stevensona dobiti dvojku.
Kako neka knjiga o knjigama može biti tako razočaravajuća.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe it was just me, but this dragged quite a bit. There were parts I liked (the history of the bookends, the copyright issues, stories of good "gets") but then, in the middle of Samoa, it just stopped. There was too much time spent there, too little going on. The narrative scheme, like the first half of Wuthering Heights, is told by a participant to someone, which mostly works. There is sometimes a hint of the unreliable narrator because of that, but mostly what we get is Clover's listening to Fergins' tale and his near stalking of Feigns to get all of it.
Clover was a little problematic for me: he's a mulatto, so there's some prejudice (as when he tries to visit Feigns' residence), but beyond that it's mentioned a few times to no real effect. I also didn't quite buy the ending with him joining the merchant marines and sailing the world. For some reason, that part didn't quite blend with the earlier story.
ARC provided by publisher.
Clover was a little problematic for me: he's a mulatto, so there's some prejudice (as when he tries to visit Feigns' residence), but beyond that it's mentioned a few times to no real effect. I also didn't quite buy the ending with him joining the merchant marines and sailing the world. For some reason, that part didn't quite blend with the earlier story.
ARC provided by publisher.
luckyliza13's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting, though sometimes I felt a little lost. Loved the Robert Louis Stevenson connection!
laurend's review against another edition
2.0
This book was shite made worse by the narrators and production.
OK premise ruined by lack of development, little to no character arcs for most, etc. Skip this book esp the audio version.
OK premise ruined by lack of development, little to no character arcs for most, etc. Skip this book esp the audio version.
lisamlane's review against another edition
4.0
While I had trouble getting into it, as the story went along it became more interesting, more in the spirit of the adventure novels of the era in which it is set, the late 19th century. The bookaneers are pirates of books before the copyright laws became international, and the story is told by the ordinary associate of one of them, who can then comment on the bizarre behaviors of the competing pirates. The portrayal of Robert Louis Stevenson on his island is evocative.