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tigerknitting's review against another edition
3.0
I read audio books when I walk or knit or other times when I can't read but can pay attention to something other than what I am doing. Sometimes I pick out a book that I haven't heard much about. Usually they are pretty good. One recent book in this category was The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham.
The book opens with Barrett wandering through Central Park wondering why his latest relationship failed. He looks up and sees a light that he thinks is looking at him. When he returns home he decides not to tell his brother Tyler, and Tyler's girlfriend Beth. Tylerr is a musician who has been using cocaine for some time, even though he has told Barrett and Beth that he is clean. Beth is dying of a rare form of cancer. Barret and Beth work for Liz in a vintage shop.
The novel follows Barret and Tyler as they try to make sense of their world and cope with reality. It it a gentle novel about love and art and making your way in the world.
The book opens with Barrett wandering through Central Park wondering why his latest relationship failed. He looks up and sees a light that he thinks is looking at him. When he returns home he decides not to tell his brother Tyler, and Tyler's girlfriend Beth. Tylerr is a musician who has been using cocaine for some time, even though he has told Barrett and Beth that he is clean. Beth is dying of a rare form of cancer. Barret and Beth work for Liz in a vintage shop.
The novel follows Barret and Tyler as they try to make sense of their world and cope with reality. It it a gentle novel about love and art and making your way in the world.
krobart's review against another edition
3.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/day-648-the-snow-queen/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/day-648-the-snow-queen/
chilotte's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
chelseajo43's review against another edition
2.75
2.5 rounded up, not my cup of tea. Very internal monologue driven, I think if I identified with one of the characters I might have enjoyed it more.
clare_tan_wenhui's review against another edition
1.0
Finished it feeling ice cold like the Snow Queen, not moved by the book in anyway...
expatally's review against another edition
4.0
Not necessarily a book to read for the plot, but instead for the beautiful writing. I had the audible version with Clare Danes as narrator and after a glance at the book, I think I would have struggled a lot more without the audio.
ace_writes_words's review against another edition
4.0
Torn between 3.5 and 4 stars, giving it a 4 for now until I can formulate my review!
fwlichstein's review against another edition
1.0
Nope. Sad, dreary characters. Really wasn't feeling this book.
agmeade's review against another edition
5.0
There are moments when a writer's prose takes you by surprise; when their skill with weaving words leaves you breathless and awestricken. This is one of those moments. I've been meaning to read Mr. Cunningham for years, and I finally picked up several of his books. I decided to begin with the one that I'd never heard of. I have such high expectations for The Hours, and I felt that perhaps I might be better suited to jump into something with none of that built up anticipation.
Often times I've found that authors who write this well are incapable of telling an engaging story. It seems that there's a disconnect between the "literary" skill and the "story-tellers" art. I will admit that I believed that to be the case with The Snow Queen. I was so, so wrong. This novel is fantastic. This. Novel. Is. Fantastic.
The story centers around the lives of two brothers, one gay and somewhat aimless, the other creative and drug-addled. The satellite characters weave in and out of their lives, changing them in Both fundamentally real and superficial ways. These are lives that any person could live. These are stories that are so real, and so visceral, that I had to walk away several times. Not because it was bad, but because it was heartbreaking.
About halfway through, I posted on facebook that it "...Could just be that I'm not particularly interested in a story about drug use and hallucinations." And I'm not. This book is about so much more than that. This book is about the lives of two people who are searching for the perfect moment, for the answer to the biggest questions; "Who Am I? Why Am I Here?" and they are failing, but it is in no way meaningless. This is the struggle of humanity, even when we don't address it so bluntly.
The Snow Queen is a story of being human, and I think I would recommend it to just about anyone.
Often times I've found that authors who write this well are incapable of telling an engaging story. It seems that there's a disconnect between the "literary" skill and the "story-tellers" art. I will admit that I believed that to be the case with The Snow Queen. I was so, so wrong. This novel is fantastic. This. Novel. Is. Fantastic.
The story centers around the lives of two brothers, one gay and somewhat aimless, the other creative and drug-addled. The satellite characters weave in and out of their lives, changing them in Both fundamentally real and superficial ways. These are lives that any person could live. These are stories that are so real, and so visceral, that I had to walk away several times. Not because it was bad, but because it was heartbreaking.
About halfway through, I posted on facebook that it "...Could just be that I'm not particularly interested in a story about drug use and hallucinations." And I'm not. This book is about so much more than that. This book is about the lives of two people who are searching for the perfect moment, for the answer to the biggest questions; "Who Am I? Why Am I Here?" and they are failing, but it is in no way meaningless. This is the struggle of humanity, even when we don't address it so bluntly.
The Snow Queen is a story of being human, and I think I would recommend it to just about anyone.
thematinee's review against another edition
3.0
I have to hand it to Cunningham - the guy always knows how to bum me out.
This feels like one of those stories of feeling "stuck in a moment"; of having one experience or one event absolutely manipulate your thoughts that it becomes difficult to concentrate on anything else. Thing is, as interesting an idea as that may be, it's not always where one wants to spend several hours of their time. This story will have your thoughts wandering to the nature of love and sacrifice, and also to obsession and self-evaluation.
If those aren't the sorts of places you want to go, don't say I didn't warn you.
This feels like one of those stories of feeling "stuck in a moment"; of having one experience or one event absolutely manipulate your thoughts that it becomes difficult to concentrate on anything else. Thing is, as interesting an idea as that may be, it's not always where one wants to spend several hours of their time. This story will have your thoughts wandering to the nature of love and sacrifice, and also to obsession and self-evaluation.
If those aren't the sorts of places you want to go, don't say I didn't warn you.