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paksenarrion's review against another edition
5.0
algrenfan's review against another edition
5.0
This book had me living through the eyes of Smokey. I was skeptical about other worlds/people, while supposing they probably didn't care all that much about this world very much anyway. It was a hard book to tie up for both the author and this reader. Would have rather it hadn't ended. The woods are more and more compelling (as if they need this book..ha!) while Kant's Categories of Understanding deserve some time off.
Amazing book!
Amazing book!
mgeoghe2's review against another edition
3.0
Took a while to get interested. Also, I listened to the audiobook and had a hard time following who was talking. Consider reading it instead.
azacadabra's review against another edition
3.0
At this time in my life, when I can only read in snatches here and there, I found Little, Big to be too esoteric for me to like it. On the other hand, there are so many aspects of this book that were charming and magical that I sort of fell in love anyway. Hence the three star rating for a book that left me feeling like I invested a lot of precious reading time and I am not really 100% sure what happened, plot-wise, let alone on all of the other levels. This is the kind of book that I will continue to think about for a long time, even though I didn't find it completely satisfying to read and, upon finishing, am not completely sure what happened. I recommend it for English majors (and others of our ilk) who don't mind *a lot* of ambiguity in their reading.
hamspamdamere's review against another edition
4.0
Poetic and rather opaque.
Will probably require a few more readings before being able to see the wood for the trees.
Will probably require a few more readings before being able to see the wood for the trees.
anonymousrival's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
krin5292's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very good and complex fantasy novel. Though I often felt lost, especially with repeating and similar names, I enjoyed learning about the world of Edgewood, and its inhabitants.
bozonbozonski's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
mfox1018's review against another edition
5.0
This took me forever to finish because of a very busy fall, but also because I had to slow myself down to savor every word. An absolutely gorgeous book.
pkfire199x's review against another edition
I have to stop reading here, at around Part 3 of 5 (pg 200-ish) because this is just not the story for me. It contains all of the necessary ingredients for a likeably weird fantasy book--very poetic style, intruiging oddball characters in a somewhat isolated world, with strong dashes of a Wonderland-esque madness--and yet, it just doesn't come together in a coherent fashion. I can't really say that this upsets me, unlike how The Vorrh's jumble did. I instead just feel something akin to mild disappoint.
Rather than be grounded in a solid story that you can follow, I'd describe this book as something of the more floaty variety. If you're just in it for the experience, not minding too much that there isn't something more to the plot (and more of a plot, for that matter) that you can sink your teeth into, then you'll probably enjoy this lots. I'd say that this book--fantastical nature aside--is a lot like life itself, in the way that it's simply about ongoing experiences with no clear structure. Although fiction mirrors life though verisimilitude, writers should aim to do more than merely mirror it. And, as it so happens, Little, Big seems content to just be a mirror; John Crowley seems content with just detailing the experiences his quirky characters go through, serving us with a good groundwork and atmosphere but never wanting to spice things up. At times I was reminded of the essay-in-the-middle-of-the-story technique used by Herman Melville, albeit less effectively. Still, though--some very nicely crafted sentences. Kudos, Crowley.
Maybe, since I never made it past a certain point in the book, I never got around to something that would really hook me. Is it really worth it, though, to continue on with a book that you can't stomach the beginning of? Perhaps if I revisit this in the future, when I'm in the mood, I'll find myself swept up in its ethereal content, and fully appreciate it. But for now, 2 stars is all I that reluctantly award it. Another supposed fantasy great that failed to entice and deliver.
Also, I just realized I used a bunch of words and phrases related to food. I guess I'm hungry? Time to go eat, haha. Cheers.
Rather than be grounded in a solid story that you can follow, I'd describe this book as something of the more floaty variety. If you're just in it for the experience, not minding too much that there isn't something more to the plot (and more of a plot, for that matter) that you can sink your teeth into, then you'll probably enjoy this lots. I'd say that this book--fantastical nature aside--is a lot like life itself, in the way that it's simply about ongoing experiences with no clear structure. Although fiction mirrors life though verisimilitude, writers should aim to do more than merely mirror it. And, as it so happens, Little, Big seems content to just be a mirror; John Crowley seems content with just detailing the experiences his quirky characters go through, serving us with a good groundwork and atmosphere but never wanting to spice things up. At times I was reminded of the essay-in-the-middle-of-the-story technique used by Herman Melville, albeit less effectively. Still, though--some very nicely crafted sentences. Kudos, Crowley.
Maybe, since I never made it past a certain point in the book, I never got around to something that would really hook me. Is it really worth it, though, to continue on with a book that you can't stomach the beginning of? Perhaps if I revisit this in the future, when I'm in the mood, I'll find myself swept up in its ethereal content, and fully appreciate it. But for now, 2 stars is all I that reluctantly award it. Another supposed fantasy great that failed to entice and deliver.
Also, I just realized I used a bunch of words and phrases related to food. I guess I'm hungry? Time to go eat, haha. Cheers.