Journal Entry 1 by dustyflint from Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Saturday, February 25, 2006

Arrowsmith-y. The hubris of a gilded age self-made man. Extremely well written but not engaging.  

Journal Entry 2 by hyphen8 from Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, February 26, 2006

Received at TOC meeting. I like stories set in 19th century New York City for some reason, so I'll give this a try. 

Journal Entry 3 by hyphen8 from Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Monday, April 03, 2006

Hmmm. I ended up feeling sort of like "what was the point of that exercise?" He succeeded, then he didn't. The book didn't make me care whether he did or not. The descriptions of the fantastic (as in fantasy-like) super-hotels were probably the most interesting part.

1997 Pulitzer Prize winner.

Is Arrowsmith a book also?(Ok, so now I've figured it out - Sinclair Lewis. Shows how much I don't know.) 

Journal Entry 4 by hyphen8 from Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Sunday, April 30, 2006

Released at the TOC meeting at the Sure Shot Cafe today. 

Journal Entry 5 by neriman from Princeton, New Jersey USA on Monday, May 01, 2006

Caught this at the TOC meeting (my first!). I love NYC, and I find tall buildings inspiring (I know, I'm weird). I think I'll like this book. 

Journal Entry 6 by neriman from Princeton, New Jersey USA on Thursday, May 18, 2006

Warning: SPOILERS

This book starts out promising but quickly loses steam. The author is clearly capable of writing well but frequently lapses into pretentious artsiness with ambiguities that don't work (when an artist does something unexpected, s/he needs to make it clear that it's intentional; otherwise, s/he comes across as careless and amateurish). For example, Millhauser writes ambiguously about the main character's relationship as a boy with one of the women at the hotel where he is a bellhop. He later implies that the relationship may have been sexual. The reader is left in doubt as to what exactly happened. There are creepy passages that seem to sexualize a ten-year-old girl, to no apparent purpose. There is an implication -- or is there? -- that Caroline is a lesbian, but it's not pursued.

Furthermore, the story is implausible. The supposedly popular "attractions" in Martin's hotels sound not only gaudy and tasteless, but impossible from a late-19th century engineering perspective. It's hard to believe that miniature cities can be built so quickly. The discussion of advertising seems anachronistic. Martin is unconvincing as an entrepreneur, and so is Emmeline as a businesswoman. We're given too many conflicting clues as to what Caroline's problem really is. When he should be developing characters, Millhauser writes monotonous passages describing New York at the turn of the century or the architecture and decor of Martin's cafes and hotels. The book may have mythical or allegorical elements, but that does not excuse careless writing or lack of character development.

I've really trashed this book, but it does have its good points. If you ignore all the above problems and think of the story only as a metaphor for the materialism, shallowness and extravagance of the 1990's, it's pretty good. I just expected more from a Pulitzer-prize winner. 

Journal Entry 7 by neriman from Princeton, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, August 01, 2006

I released this at the July 1st TOC luncheon at Macaroni Grill, exactly a month ago. I hope it will be journalled eventually. 

Journal Entry 8 by skeeterbess from Waianae, Hawaii USA on Sunday, June 08, 2008

I thought I journaled and moved this book months ago, but maybe it was in those dark days when I couldn't get into BookCrossing? Whatever impact it made has been lost, but I'm agreeing with almost everything said by those who journaled before me. Returning to the gals of TOC today. 

Journal Entry 9 by skeeterbess at Ward Centre (details in notes) in Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Monday, June 09, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (6/8/2008 UTC) at Ward Centre (details in notes) in Honolulu, Hawaii USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

On a sidewalk bench near Ryan's Grill. Enjoy!