3 out of 5 stars
This is going to be a difficult review to write for so many reasons. I wanted to love this book. I DID love this book, until Peter Lake died. Then it all went wrong, for me anyway. I loved his character. I loved his relationship with Beverley Penn. If the story had expanded on this relationship, instead of everything else that followed, I would have continued to love the book, of that I'm sure. I was really disappointed that Beverley's death was skimmed over, with no real in depth discussion of its effect on Peter.
Some of Helprin's descriptions are truly magical, especially when he's describing winter or New York. Sometimes his words truly took my breath away and I had to read them again and again. Other times, I had to re-read passages again and again because I simply couldn't understand what Helprin was saying. Maybe that is my fault, but it is also Helprin's because some of his descriptions just don't make sense.
A Winter's Tale is a love story, but of a love for New York and winter more than a love story between people.
“The shelf was filled with books that were hard to read, that could devastate and remake one's soul, and that, when they were finished, had a kick like a mule.”
― Mark Helprin, Winter's Tale
If only a Winter's Tale had been a book like this!
This is going to be a difficult review to write for so many reasons. I wanted to love this book. I DID love this book, until Peter Lake died. Then it all went wrong, for me anyway. I loved his character. I loved his relationship with Beverley Penn. If the story had expanded on this relationship, instead of everything else that followed, I would have continued to love the book, of that I'm sure. I was really disappointed that Beverley's death was skimmed over, with no real in depth discussion of its effect on Peter.
Some of Helprin's descriptions are truly magical, especially when he's describing winter or New York. Sometimes his words truly took my breath away and I had to read them again and again. Other times, I had to re-read passages again and again because I simply couldn't understand what Helprin was saying. Maybe that is my fault, but it is also Helprin's because some of his descriptions just don't make sense.
A Winter's Tale is a love story, but of a love for New York and winter more than a love story between people.
“The shelf was filled with books that were hard to read, that could devastate and remake one's soul, and that, when they were finished, had a kick like a mule.”
― Mark Helprin, Winter's Tale
If only a Winter's Tale had been a book like this!