miranda_is_currently_reading's review against another edition
2.0
I would have given this 1 Star, but I really liked the last story in this collection.
Millhauser focuses too much attention on detail rather than plot, so much so that trying to power through most of these stories quickly became exhausting.
Millhauser focuses too much attention on detail rather than plot, so much so that trying to power through most of these stories quickly became exhausting.
bzedan's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not a bad collection of short stories and, like any such, some hit one better than others. I’d picked this up to read the short that The Illusionist was based/inspired from. I found myself enjoying the form of the stories, the love of lists of objects, more than the content as the stories wound on.
misskrislm's review against another edition
1.0
I could not complete this book, and it took six months of trying to get through it to get to that point. Im' sorry, but the writing was not engaging and the stories were unwelcoming to the reader.
bretthardin's review against another edition
I only read Eisenheim the Illusionist. What a great story.
kylieayn's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
damiec's review against another edition
4.0
He moves between the fantastical and the concrete in the disorienting fashion of dreams.
jmanchester0's review against another edition
3.0
Steven Millhauser sure has a flair for detail. I don't think I'll ever approach the game of Clue again without imagining the personalities of each of the characters in rich detail.
Also, I really want one of those little pink rubber balls. You know the ones that have the little line of flashing all the way around? About 3 inches in diameter?
But I don't think I would even call these stories. Some are. I don't even know how to characterize the other ones.
The reason I read this was for the story Klassik Komix #1, which is a panel-by-panel description of a comic book (based on a T.S. Eliot poem). But even the story contained in the comic book doesn't follow normal convention.
In some ways I want to rate this a 5 for creativity and thinking outside the box. In some ways I want to rate it a 2 for being befuddling and nonsensical. I'll leave it at a 3. The writing just didn't grab me, I guess. Probably worth reading if you like more experimental writing - but at the time, I just wasn't in the mindset.
Also, I really want one of those little pink rubber balls. You know the ones that have the little line of flashing all the way around? About 3 inches in diameter?
But I don't think I would even call these stories. Some are. I don't even know how to characterize the other ones.
The reason I read this was for the story Klassik Komix #1, which is a panel-by-panel description of a comic book (based on a T.S. Eliot poem). But even the story contained in the comic book doesn't follow normal convention.
In some ways I want to rate this a 5 for creativity and thinking outside the box. In some ways I want to rate it a 2 for being befuddling and nonsensical. I'll leave it at a 3. The writing just didn't grab me, I guess. Probably worth reading if you like more experimental writing - but at the time, I just wasn't in the mindset.
akhmalaiman's review
3.0
Rating: 3/5 stars
I have to admit I have not read anything like this before and it was very hard to read despite it being short.
The book is written in the form of short stories and most of the stories are written so descriptively. They're all vivid, everything is detailed they even describe the box of Cluedo in full detail! If you want to read a surrealism piece, then this is for you. You don't necessarily read it for the narrative, but for the style of writing.
In case you are wondering, the actual story of "Barnum Museum" is only 30-page long. The rest are random short stories. There's one particular story ("Rain") that tells a story of a gentleman's drive from the cinema to his house in the rain................. yeap.
I particularly enjoy two chapters: "The eighth journey of Sinbad" and "The Invention of Robert Herendeen"
I don't mind this book. Just not my cup of tea?
p.s. I would recommend some of the short stories to O'Level and A'Level students. It would help them in writing a descriptive piece for the creative writing paper.
I have to admit I have not read anything like this before and it was very hard to read despite it being short.
The book is written in the form of short stories and most of the stories are written so descriptively. They're all vivid, everything is detailed they even describe the box of Cluedo in full detail! If you want to read a surrealism piece, then this is for you. You don't necessarily read it for the narrative, but for the style of writing.
In case you are wondering, the actual story of "Barnum Museum" is only 30-page long. The rest are random short stories. There's one particular story ("Rain") that tells a story of a gentleman's drive from the cinema to his house in the rain................. yeap.
I particularly enjoy two chapters: "The eighth journey of Sinbad" and "The Invention of Robert Herendeen"
I don't mind this book. Just not my cup of tea?
p.s. I would recommend some of the short stories to O'Level and A'Level students. It would help them in writing a descriptive piece for the creative writing paper.
grahamiam's review against another edition
4.0
This would've easily been a 5 star book if all the stories were as high quality as his opening story about Clue. As is thought it's still a fantastic read.
akhmalaiman's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3/5 stars
I have to admit I have not read anything like this before and it was very hard to read despite it being short.
The book is written in the form of short stories and most of the stories are written so descriptively. They're all vivid, everything is detailed they even describe the box of Cluedo in full detail! If you want to read a surrealism piece, then this is for you. You don't necessarily read it for the narrative, but for the style of writing.
In case you are wondering, the actual story of "Barnum Museum" is only 30-page long. The rest are random short stories. There's one particular story ("Rain") that tells a story of a gentleman's drive from the cinema to his house in the rain................. yeap.
I particularly enjoy two chapters: "The eighth journey of Sinbad" and "The Invention of Robert Herendeen"
I don't mind this book. Just not my cup of tea?
p.s. I would recommend some of the short stories to O'Level and A'Level students. It would help them in writing a descriptive piece for the creative writing paper.
I have to admit I have not read anything like this before and it was very hard to read despite it being short.
The book is written in the form of short stories and most of the stories are written so descriptively. They're all vivid, everything is detailed they even describe the box of Cluedo in full detail! If you want to read a surrealism piece, then this is for you. You don't necessarily read it for the narrative, but for the style of writing.
In case you are wondering, the actual story of "Barnum Museum" is only 30-page long. The rest are random short stories. There's one particular story ("Rain") that tells a story of a gentleman's drive from the cinema to his house in the rain................. yeap.
I particularly enjoy two chapters: "The eighth journey of Sinbad" and "The Invention of Robert Herendeen"
I don't mind this book. Just not my cup of tea?
p.s. I would recommend some of the short stories to O'Level and A'Level students. It would help them in writing a descriptive piece for the creative writing paper.