calcitestar's review against another edition
2.0
Rambling and never to the point. About a jewish man and a jewish fly. The last chapter joins things but is never really held my enthusiasm.
levanteee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
sawyerbell's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for originality and humour.
"I, the being in question, having spent nearly three hundred years lost as a pomegranate pip in a lake of aspic, amnesiac, bodiless and comatose, a nugget of spirit but nothing else, found myself quickening, gaining form and weight and, finally, consciousness. I did not remember dying, so my first thoughts were confused, and a little desperate."
So begins the tale of Jacob, 18th century Jewish peddler, petty criminal, valet, honeytrap and celebrated actor who is reborn as a 21st century housefly with perfect recall of his past live. As Jacob-the-fly buzzes about watching the dreamy, religious Masha (who longs to become an actor in spite of her orthodox religious beliefs), and the saintly Leslie (who lusts after Masha despite being a Family Man), he retells his own rollicking tale of life in 18th century Paris.
I enjoyed most of this story very much. Miller is an expert at creating characters who are divorced from their feelings and are stunned when they find themselves acting out of character. Jacob is an entertaining and lively narrator; nonetheless the story did drag for me in places and I sometimes had trouble keeping track of the minor characters who were less well-developed. Overall though, a very enjoyable read.
"I, the being in question, having spent nearly three hundred years lost as a pomegranate pip in a lake of aspic, amnesiac, bodiless and comatose, a nugget of spirit but nothing else, found myself quickening, gaining form and weight and, finally, consciousness. I did not remember dying, so my first thoughts were confused, and a little desperate."
So begins the tale of Jacob, 18th century Jewish peddler, petty criminal, valet, honeytrap and celebrated actor who is reborn as a 21st century housefly with perfect recall of his past live. As Jacob-the-fly buzzes about watching the dreamy, religious Masha (who longs to become an actor in spite of her orthodox religious beliefs), and the saintly Leslie (who lusts after Masha despite being a Family Man), he retells his own rollicking tale of life in 18th century Paris.
I enjoyed most of this story very much. Miller is an expert at creating characters who are divorced from their feelings and are stunned when they find themselves acting out of character. Jacob is an entertaining and lively narrator; nonetheless the story did drag for me in places and I sometimes had trouble keeping track of the minor characters who were less well-developed. Overall though, a very enjoyable read.
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed for Historical Novel Review, Issue 65; blog review to come.
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