Reviews and Comments

I've had this book on my shelves since about 2001, and I've tried to start reading it, only to be interrupted or something would come up. I left it alone for years. Now I know why--because I LET myself get interrupted.

Frankly--and I was very surprised to discover this--I was bored.

Little Women feels disjointed, a bit preachy, and like a "day in the life" story that doesn't want to end. I couldn't even get to part 2 (about pg 241) because the story didn't seem to want to go anywhere. It felt like yes, there were some things ladies of the time needed to know or understand to get an idea as to the things they'll have to deal with growing up. But it's like the story as a whole was stuck. Each chapter made sure to end with a witticism or "moral of the story" moment. I suppose this made it easier to digest for serial form. But it felt like torture trying to go through it in a few days.

I will say the characters were the only thing that made me want to keep going, and let me go for nearly 150 pages. But what happened was we were stuck and nobody seemed to be going anywhere.

I have to say, though, with the characters (and my understanding of where the story goes from here), it is definitely ripe for movies--no wonder so many versions were made. I've only seen snippets of the films, so I don't know everything that happens, but what I could see of the movies is they streamlined the pace.

That's what made this book hard for me to read. I was prepared to enjoy it, and was disappointed how bored i was instead. Maybe another day I'll get an abridged version (which I normally avoid like the plague), just to streamline it and if someone wanted me to read it to them...but that's it. Wish I could've enjoyed it.

I'm surprised I didn't like this book as much as "Tinker, Tailor...". I think it was because it was so easy for me to get lost in the events. I joked that some books can be complex, but you don't need to make a spreadsheet or flowchart regarding who, what, where, and when...but I got to feeling it would've been easier if I did make one this time around.

The overall story, that I could see, was interesting in a lot of respects. I found the travels and trips of our heroes worth a read. The action jumps all over the map, and is definitely worthy for a contemporary and historical slant on things. The Vietnam War is nearly over as events unfold, and following Jerry Westerby's adventures, along with the re-built Circus, has its moments. LeCarre is excellent at putting us in the war zones.

Beyond that, I had a very hard time piecing together what the hell was going on. I have a feeling I'd have to read it 2 or 3 times to really get it all in. It's a much more sprawling book than its predecessor, and the information revealed was in such small drips and drabs that I could barely remember what the heck they were looking for. I still don't think I understood the ending much if at all.

I may have to read this book a few more times to really get and appreciate it. I hate to say that I'm not sure I want to put in the effort, though...perhaps "Smiley's People" will shine some light on events as I read it next.

I promise myself that I'll give at least 100 pages on any book I've read. And because I've heard so much about this one, I went a bit farther. But yikes, I had to quit--just couldn't get into it anymore.

There are some things I can appreciate with this book, and others I just can't grasp. I can appreciate the unique writing style, in the pacing of the story. There's something happening--or even very much NOT happening--on each page. What I can't grasp is the inconsistencies between thoughts and dialogue, how Sal, the narrator will be giving Dean's (or anyone's perspective) and it abruptly goes into the character talking. I can't word it better, and I barely got the gist of the dialogue.

All in all, I guess I tried to understand the characters, but they were just too much and not enough at the same time, as if they're confusing the hell out of themselves just by breathing, and we're experiencing that, too. If that was the goal, I guess the mission's accomplished. But I couldn't stick with it because it felt like "go on a trip on a whim, have crap happen, get in the dumps, go home, wash-rinse-repeat." I'd always read that this book was so iconic, but I guess I can't see it.

Who knows? Might be your cup of tea, too confusing to be mine (and I don't like feeling like I need drugs to understand what's going on, as some have suggested).

This book was a bit tough for me to get into at first. It took some careful reading to get the gist of what it was all about, and then it was so simple...almost. It's a summer story, the summer of 1928 to be precise.

It's kind of interesting because it's a story that gets you really thinking about the minds of kids, and what they think and what they believe, such as the belief in some kids that old ladies were never little girls, or that you could bottle memories in dandelion wine.

I think the story had a bit of magic in it, I just wish it didn't take so long for me to get into it. But once i did, I kept going at it. It's definitely different than what I'm used to with Bradbury in a sense because at first it didn't seem like a lot of little stories of summer rolled up together. But once the variety of characters and their issues showed up, then it grew into something more familiar. I'd recommend anybody to at least give it a shot.

Other than the introduction, this isn't really a book you read--it is primarily illustrations. So, if you were looking for a guide describing the architectural styles and how they came about, this is not the book to do it.

However, this could be useful as an adjunct to other books on japanese architecture, books that speak to how the architecture developed, the aesthetics, the material uses, etc. The photos within describe many elements of Japanese homes and businesses, elements the author says were to capture some of the old tranquility as Japan boomed economically and people began to consume more (the book was written in the mid 1980s).

So, on its own, unless you just like pictures of architecture and architectural elements, or are designing film or theater sets, I wouldn't recommend this book. But it's a good companion if blueprints and sketches just don't help you get it...I like it because it helps transport me to another time and place...it makes me want to go to Japan!