Winter's Tale |
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Author:
Mark Helprin
By Harvest Books
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £16.00
Our Price: £7.36
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780156031196
ISBN: 0156031191
Label: Harvest Books
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 768
Publication Date: 2008-07-18
Publisher: Harvest Books
Studio: Harvest Books |
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 A muddled, predictable, thinly-veiled Conservative fantasy, 1999-07-16
The basic concept behind Winter's Tale -- of a man trying to bring back the woman he loves through the course of a century -- had some appeal. There's some beautiful prose here, and some great ideas -- some interesting fantasy concepts -- but it all falls apart after the first section is finished. The following two-thirds of the book are boring, hard to follow and serve as a thinly-veiled allegory to Helprin's Conservative ideals. The battle between the newspapers -- the Sun and the Ghost -- represents to Helprin the battle between Conservative and Liberal, and guess who the good guys are and guess who's crazy? In many ways, the mix of fantasy and reality reminds me a great deal of Latin American literature. But Helprin's narrow beliefs and heavy handed tone undermine what's good in this book. It reached the point where I was averaging only a chapter a day on the subway, because I couldn't bear to read it otherwise. Peter Lake, Beverly Penn, and Pearly Soames are compelling characters -- but alas, they're overshadowed by the poorly painted caricatures who dominate much of the book. Proof that it takes a subtle touch to integrate a political message into literature. Unfortunately, Helprin's about as unsubtle as they come. Stay away -- stay far, far away ...
onirism at your doorstep, 2002-07-10
Thank you other reviewers for agreeing with my first-impressions feelings: yes M Helprin makes me think G G Marquez too, and yes I also loved the way he transforms NYC into an oniric sort of big marsh, keeping it wild and dirty at the same time.
I also read this book because of its cover, during winter 1995 while studying in cold Montreal.
This book is in my "top 10"...
What is striking with Helprin's talent is that he takes you to known places and makes you enter unheard of rooms that belong to there: he has the capacity of building worlds around you which is outstanding. The fertility of his imagination is awesome.
Like a soft & sweet spider he builds a web of images, of smells, of hazes and vegetation that are unlike anything you've read before, and he unfoils it in a move that just looks like it's just-for-you-that-I've-written-this...
Gd prix de Rome M Helprin should write more, if he ever read these lines...
Too bad I can't find more of his books whenever I'm in the UK
My favourite book......EVER!, 2001-01-04
I couldn't believe how this fantastic book made me feel. It is the first time i have longed to be part of a story and meet these characters. After destroying my dads copy of the book (his favourite also) i am so pleased to have found it again as i don't think i could cope without knowing it was safe on my bookshelf incase i fancy a flight with Anthasor.
Mystical Nonsense, 2007-03-16
I read Winter's Tale as part of a book group, and I have to say that we were all very disappointed by it. I really like magic realism, and am a big fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Murakami. However, this book falls far short of their standard.
Helprin introduces characters at random throughout the book, then drops them, never to be mentioned again. There is very little characterisation, and it's hard to feel involved with any of the main protagonists. I think it's fair to say that the only memorable character is the flying horse. The plot spans over a hundred years, yet it's difficult to work out where you are in this timescale at any given point. There are also some annoying anachronisms - a toaster and a hot tub in the early 1900s?
Helprin has a somewhat 'unique' writing style, using a number of adjectives often seemingly at random. What with the sketchy plot, lack of characterisation and frustrating prose, it's difficult to think of any way in which this novel makes a meaningful contribution, even as an experiment in alternate realities. Instead, it feels like the author has been very self-indulgent.
Given the number of glowing reviews of this book, I was surprised to dislike it so intensely. I don't often post reviews, but I felt obliged to point out the other side of the story to those who may be thinking of picking this book up. Sadly, I can't think of a single person I know who would enjoy this book.
A book I have looked forward to reading again for 10 years, 1999-12-23
This book is one of the most irresistable dream-weavers I have ever had the pleasure to read. The characters spring to life and the stunning descriptions of scenery and architecture are so real you can touch them. This has to be one of my favourite ever stories. I read this book in the eighties , and have only found it again now - Thankyou Amazon
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