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csemanek's review
3.0
I did enjoy this book even though it took months and months to read it. It was really funny throughout, but it was a struggle to get through it at times. It was certainly written at a higher level than I am used to. I haven't read a book with so many unfamiliar words in years; that explains part of the struggle, but it was neat to learn new words.
Apparently I had no real understanding of all of the struggles he encountered during his fascinating life. Plus, i love learning of all the intersections of historical figures - who knew he was friends with US Grant? And that's just one example.
I'm definitely glad to have spent the time reading this.
Apparently I had no real understanding of all of the struggles he encountered during his fascinating life. Plus, i love learning of all the intersections of historical figures - who knew he was friends with US Grant? And that's just one example.
I'm definitely glad to have spent the time reading this.
librarianonparade's review
3.0
I'm really not sure what I made of this book. I think my reaction to it definitely says more about me than it does the author or his approach. I felt curiously detached from it; I never at any point came to care about Samuel Clemens, alias Mark Twain. He didn't come alive for me in these pages. In fact, he felt very much more like a character from one of his own books than a real living, breathing person, and not an entirely likeable one either.
I certainly think a lot of that can be ascribed to Powers' style - this book was as full of humourous asides and dramatic foreshadowing and wry commentary as any of Mark Twain's writings. And certainly if ever there was a subject who would suit that kind of approach it would be Mark Twain. Perhaps that was the point? Or perhaps, given the duality of Sam Clemens/Mark Twain and his shifting, mischievous, subtle nature, it would be impossible to really get to the heart of him in any biography, regardless of the approach.
I suppose I'm used to the more straight-forward form of biography, hence why I hesitate to lay any blame at the author's feet. Powers certainly knows his subject - the level of research that must have gone into this is quite impressive - and his admiration for Mark Twain's work and his influence on the emerging American 'voice' clearly knows no bounds. Another area where we differ, and perhaps something else that impacted on my enjoyment. As I said, I think this is one where it very much comes down to personal taste, much like Twain's book. So perhaps in that sense it is a biography admirably fitted to its subject.
I certainly think a lot of that can be ascribed to Powers' style - this book was as full of humourous asides and dramatic foreshadowing and wry commentary as any of Mark Twain's writings. And certainly if ever there was a subject who would suit that kind of approach it would be Mark Twain. Perhaps that was the point? Or perhaps, given the duality of Sam Clemens/Mark Twain and his shifting, mischievous, subtle nature, it would be impossible to really get to the heart of him in any biography, regardless of the approach.
I suppose I'm used to the more straight-forward form of biography, hence why I hesitate to lay any blame at the author's feet. Powers certainly knows his subject - the level of research that must have gone into this is quite impressive - and his admiration for Mark Twain's work and his influence on the emerging American 'voice' clearly knows no bounds. Another area where we differ, and perhaps something else that impacted on my enjoyment. As I said, I think this is one where it very much comes down to personal taste, much like Twain's book. So perhaps in that sense it is a biography admirably fitted to its subject.
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