Jardov

Very disappointed in this. Bland characters and storyline, somewhat predictable and cliched as other reviewers have pointed out. I was racing through it toward the end just to finish it

I've read various classics, sci fi, historical fiction, thrillers etc but this is probably my first coming of age read - and it's also my favourite book. If you're looking for plot and action then forget it; this is an organic story that meanders as it follows the life of Francie. The characterisations are vivid, and the story evokes feelings of joy and poignancy during a time of poverty in early 1900s Brooklyn. It's not what I would have regarded as my type of book, but it's left its mark.

Overall it's an enjoyable book, but the more I thought about it afterwards the more I realised that none of the main characters had any particularly redeeming features, most were actually quite dis-likeable with the possible exception of Levin who was somewhat boring. However, having said that there is a depth that Tolstoy gives to his characters that's absent in most novels, and the description of aristocratic society in late 19th century Russia was fascinating. It's overly long, and I found myself disappointed in Anna, who arguably isn't even the main character - but I've read many novels since this, and they are just not in the same league in terms of depth and complexity of character.

For me this is the Da Vinci Code of the sci fi world - that's not necessarily a bad thing, I really enjoyed the Da Vinci Code, a high octane roller coaster fantasy ride. There are parallels with Browns prose in the way that Weir describes the science to his audience which can be a bit tedious, and also in the thinness of the characters but (so long as you suspend your disbelief a little) it's a good story and reads easily. I'd like to have known a bit more about what happens to earth.

Overall an excellent book. Some reviewers seem to be reviewing it from the point of view of 21st century morals and values, so eg leaving a baby to die is pretty vile but this is 12th century england, they have no money, they're starving, they cannot feed a baby, there's no social infrastructure for support etc. The book was good at describing the feudal system that existed, and the grip that religion had over people - these were truly unenlightened, God-fearing times. The story weaved nicely, loose ends were tied up a little bit too conveniently and quickly at the end but overall very enjoyable.

The basic plot is that Quixote believes he is a knight-errant and goes in search of adventure - in doing so he gets into various escapades which inevitably end with him being made a fool of, whilst earnestly believing in his quest. It's funny to begin with, and his relationship with Sancho is entertaining, if it had been condensed to 300 pages it would have been a good read. However, the joke goes on for too long and pretty soon it becomes an exercise in how to humiliate Quixote at every turn. The Duke and Duchess are particularly abhorrent characters in my view (this is probably intended as a reflection on the upper echelons of society at the time), with the mockery seemingly endless. I found myself hoping that at some point he would be redeemed, but in the end he realises that he's been a fool, is no doubt mortified to have been humiliated by all and sundry, and then dies. It felt like Cervantes didn't even like his protagonist.