Oyster

Rating:
Summary: Guilt, opals, armageddon & the Outback!
Review: Set in Australia at the end of the 20th century, Oyster explores the hysteria & resulting consequences of end-of-the-world cultism. In hallucinatory prose, Janette Turner Hospital weaves flashbacks into the (almost) present-day story, as if one is drifting in and out of consciousness.
It is interesting to note that although Oyster is the name of the messianic cult figure who brings his followers to the (intentionally) forgotton mining town of Outer Maroo; he, as a character, does not figure too prominently in the story. Rather, it is the actions & reactions of the other characters to Oyster & his disciples that make up the main narrative.
It's a bit rough to get through, but some passages sparkle like the opals that the townsfolk & cult members mine.

Rating:
Summary: Waste if time
Review: This 400-page story of Oyster kept me hoping for more. More of a plot, more of a specific reason for reading on, more details regarding the missing characters. The meat of the story could have been distilled into 60 pages. The rest of the book involved the author expounding on character descriptions that became boring in their redundancy and predictability. Don't waste your time with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Waste if time
Review: This 400-page story of Oyster kept me hoping for more. More of a plot, more of a specific reason for reading on, more details regarding the missing characters. The meat of the story could have been distilled into 60 pages. The rest of the book involved the author expounding on character descriptions that became boring in their redundancy and predictability. Don't waste your time with this book.

Rating:
Summary: beautifully written book - literary & evocative- re-read,etc
Review: This book was beaufilly written. I couldn't put it down & now can't erase the images from my mind. The characters are unforgettable and the imagery is so realistic you'll feel like you're choking on the read outback dust. I haven't read anything so memorable in a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning
Review: This is a challenging book. One needs to linger over the author's words and allow one's imagination to be strung along willingly. If you fight the temptation to speed read, you will discover the prize of her writing skills and the gift of this story. The story evolves through real life and the remembrances of the characters. At times it feels hallucinogenic, but what wouldn't in 120 degree Australian heat and the outback isolation? The story is very unique. There is no need to describe the plot as it is so well discussed in these other reviews. Indeed, the reviews were helpful enough to guide me through the beginning of the book until I got used to the author's rhythm. Eventually, the pieces begin to fit, and just like the unsuspecting visitor, I discover just what the hell is going on with Oyster.

Rating:
Summary: A book that deserves taking your time with
Review: This is a challenging book. One needs to linger over the author's words and allow one's imagination to be strung along willingly. If you fight the temptation to speed read, you will discover the prize of her writing skills and the gift of this story. The story evolves through real life and the remembrances of the characters. At times it feels hallucinogenic, but what wouldn't in 120 degree Australian heat and the outback isolation? The story is very unique. There is no need to describe the plot as it is so well discussed in these other reviews. Indeed, the reviews were helpful enough to guide me through the beginning of the book until I got used to the author's rhythm. Eventually, the pieces begin to fit, and just like the unsuspecting visitor, I discover just what the hell is going on with Oyster.

Rating:
Summary: So boring, I can't believe I finished this book...
Review: This is one of those books that I started reading, was never gripped, but kept slogging through, figuring it must get better. It never did. The characters were lifeless, had no humanity, were not at all engaging. The story was bleak and not compelling. I read all these reviews that talk about her magificent writing--I never found it.

Rating:
Summary: So boring, I can't believe I finished this book...
Review: This is one of those books that I started reading, was never gripped, but kept slogging through, figuring it must get better. It never did. The characters were lifeless, had no humanity, were not at all engaging. The story was bleak and not compelling. I read all these reviews that talk about her magificent writing--I never found it.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely first rate, thoroughly satisfying!
Review: To the bleak setting and fast pace reminiscent of Louis L'Amour, Turner Hospital adds the philosophical depth and urgency of a Joseph Conrad. Her deft use of time warps and her creation of a sympathetic main character add drama, suspense, and excitement to what might otherwise be a dark and heavy reading experience. Unique in setting, theme, and plot, this is a compelling novel sure to captivate and hold the interest of even the most sophisticated reader.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely first-rate, thoroughly satisfying!
Review: To the bleak setting and fast pace reminiscent of Louis L'Amour, Turner Hospital adds the philosophical depth and urgency of Joseph Conrad. Her deft use of time warps and her creation of a sympathetic main character add drama, suspense, and excitement to what might otherwise be a dark and heavy reading experience. Unique in setting, theme, and plot, this is a compelling novel, sure to captivate and hold the interest of even the most sophisticated reader.