Rating: 
Summary: A Fairytale Destiny
Review: Actor Walker Easterling has a unique origin--and you'll never "guess" what it is until you immerse yourself into this thoroughly enjoyable albeit quirky read. In a style reminiscient of Graham Joyce, the author begins Walker's strange revelation with a single life-altering action; he dramatically rescues model-beautiful Maris from an abusive boyfriend. As his act of chivalry blooms into love against the romantic backdrop of Vienna, counter-productive events inhibit the relationship from reaching the "happy-ever-after" stage. Indeed the deepening of Maris and Walker's love for each other corresponds directly to Walker's awakening to a supernatural power which he discovers he has carried with him through a series of past-lives. Intrinsic to all these lives is the same element, a strong father-son bond broken by the love of a beautiful woman, but as Walker never knew his "real" father, he is puzzled as to how the story will play out in the life he is living now.
With no strain to the reader's sensibilites, Carroll easily moves his story along like a cameraman flashing in and out of reality and dream sequences. Its one fault, perhaps is Walker's eventual reckoning with his past and confrontation with the father figure---the simplicity of the solution seemed a little convenient. In its defense however, it works with the overall theme and mood of the piece. Although the reader figures out ahead of time most of what Walker will finally confirm for himself as his powers of perception and magic strengthen, the strength of the book lies in the charmingly jumpy way Carroll tells his story and the utter insouciance of both his main characters.
All in all this was a very pleasant read that I looked forward to picking up and was reluctant to put down.
Rating:
Summary: A Fairytale Destiny
Review: Actor Walker Easterling has a unique origin--and you'll never "guess" what it is until you immerse yourself into this thoroughly enjoyable albeit quirky read. In a style reminiscient of Graham Joyce, the author begins Walker's strange revelation with a single life-altering action; he dramatically rescues model-beautiful Maris from an abusive boyfriend. As his act of chivalry blooms into love against the romantic backdrop of Vienna, counter-productive events inhibit the relationship from reaching the "happy-ever-after" stage. Indeed the deepening of Maris and Walker's love for each other corresponds directly to Walker's awakening to a supernatural power which he discovers he has carried with him through a series of past-lives. Intrinsic to all these lives is the same element, a strong father-son bond broken by the love of a beautiful woman, but as Walker never knew his "real" father, he is puzzled as to how the story will play out in the life he is living now.
With no strain to the reader's sensibilites, Carroll easily moves his story along like a cameraman flashing in and out of reality and dream sequences. Its one fault, perhaps is Walker's eventual reckoning with his past and confrontation with the father figure---the simplicity of the solution seemed a little convenient. In its defense however, it works with the overall theme and mood of the piece. Although the reader figures out ahead of time most of what Walker will finally confirm for himself as his powers of perception and magic strengthen, the strength of the book lies in the charmingly jumpy way Carroll tells his story and the utter insouciance of both his main characters.
All in all this was a very pleasant read that I looked forward to picking up and was reluctant to put down.
Rating:
Summary: A Fairytale Destiny
Review: Actor Walker Easterling has a unique origin--and you'll never "guess" what it is until you immerse yourself into this thoroughly enjoyable albeit quirky read. In a style reminiscient of Graham Joyce, the author begins Walker's strange revelation with a single life-altering action; he dramatically rescues model-beautiful Maris from an abusive boyfriend. As his act of chivalry blooms into love against the romantic backdrop of Vienna, counter-productive events inhibit the relationship from reaching the "happy-ever-after" stage. Indeed the deepening of Maris and Walker's love for each other corresponds directly to Walker's awakening to a supernatural power which he discovers he has carried with him through a series of past-lives. Intrinsic to all these lives is the same element, a strong father-son bond broken by the love of a beautiful woman, but as Walker never knew his "real" father, he is puzzled as to how the story will play out in the life he is living now.
With no strain to the reader's sensibilites, Carroll easily moves his story along like a cameraman flashing in and out of reality and dream sequences. Its one fault, perhaps is Walker's eventual reckoning with his past and confrontation with the father figure---the simplicity of the solution seemed a little convenient. In its defense however, it works with the overall theme and mood of the piece. Although the reader figures out ahead of time most of what Walker will finally confirm for himself as his powers of perception and magic strengthen, the strength of the book lies in the charmingly jumpy way Carroll tells his story and the utter insouciance of both his main characters.
All in all this was a very pleasant read that I looked forward to picking up and was reluctant to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: Jonathan Carroll is one of the best writers of the 20th C.
Review: An amazing writer. Read everything he writes. Outside the Dog Museum is great, Sleeping in Flame is terrific, Staring at the Sun is amazing. More! More! More, Jonathan Carroll
Rating:
Summary: Lyricism with a hard edge
Review: Carroll has an enviable gift of delivering gems of profundity and infinite wisdom while pushing forward his increasingly bizarre plots. The seamless transition from heartwarming normality to nightmare is never achieved better than in this, the first novel of his which I read. One of Carroll's characters observes of another that her smile is like "sitting by the fire with the best damn book you ever read". This book, perhaps.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like David Lynch!
Review: For anyone who knows who David Lynch is (the guy who did Twin Peaks and Wild Thing)I'm telling you this book is like reading one of his movies! If you like that trippy, mysterious type of thing, this book will be a great companion. I have moods and read accordingly; if you are the same, make sure you're ready for something out of the norm. Happy reading.
Rating:
Summary: Reads like David Lynch!
Review: For anyone who knows who David Lynch is (the guy who did Twin Peaks and Wild Thing)I'm telling you this book is like reading one of his movies! If you like that trippy, mysterious type of thing, this book will be a great companion. I have moods and read accordingly; if you are the same, make sure you're ready for something out of the norm. Happy reading.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: For the most part, this is an excellent book. It begins as a fairly normal love story in Vienna, but elements of the bizarre keep seeping into this ordinary artistic world. Pretty soon, magic, suspense, and amazing twists are everywhere. It's delightful and heartwrenching. I was reading it, tense and excited, tears occasionally coming to my eyes, and wondering to myself how many friends I could recommend it to.Then, suddenly, it ended. And the ending was no thrill--the complex story the author was weaving around the tale of Rumplestiltskin suddenly fell apart into a barely tenable, uncompelling solution. And then, to make matters worse, came the incomprehensible section in which, as best I can figure out, Little Red Riding Hood makes a threatening first appearance. Don't worry--I haven't spoiled the book itself for you, because this section has almost nothing to do with the rest of the book. I was very disappointed--I'd rather simply read a bad book, than read a book that is astonishingly good, right up until the bad ending. If you ask me, Carroll's editor isn't doing his or her job. However, I'll be on the lookout for books of Carroll's that are more complete, because his style is, at its best, genuinely fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely breathtaking
Review: For those of you who love the Brothers Grimm, this novel is for you. It is a captivating piece of work which you will not be able to put down and will probably reread. Carroll is a writer of rare talent.
Rating:
Summary: It'll change you forever !
Review: I came across this book after reading Bones Of The Moon. It took me about 6 months to find it in a shop. It's such a beautiful story, full of love, pain and anger. I've recommended it to many friends but I don't want to actually give them my copy ! I don't think any review would do it justice. It's my most prized book. Unfortunately most of his earlier books are out of print. Unless someone knows better....
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