I rather like the previous book from Wolfe, "I am charlotte Simmonds". Much better plot. I have his bonfire of the vanities on my TB player, but need a break before I tackle that one. David From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tar Barrels Sent: 02 January 2013 20:53 To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Back to Blood. I suppose there's no reason to think that everything an author churns out is going to be to the same standard, but we do expect that, don't we? June _____ From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shell Sent: 02 January 2013 20:34 To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Back to Blood. I do agree with you June, but please try A Man In Full, it's a wonderful book. I had a look at the Amazon reviews though and lots of people seemed to like it very much although many complained about the wandering plot. I think perhaps people were kinder because of his past wonderful books. If he'd have been an unknown author, I don't think they might have been as kind. Shell. -------------------------------------------------- From: "Tar Barrels" <tar.barrels@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2013 8:04 PM To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Back to Blood. > This is only my second Wolfe, and I found it really distasteful, boring, > sprawling and at times the writing was lazy - not something I expected from > Wolfe. He just didn't seem to have the same drive and focus with his > narrative, and last time I really enjoyed his use of language, but this just > didn't cut it for me. Having read only one other, and heard the other > comments, I'm sorry I wasted a day and persevered, but will perhaps try A > Man in Full sometime as this seems to get rave reviews. I think he should > stay out of the politics and go back to being a painter of words! Someone > should have cut this one in two. Someone pointed out that this was written > in his 70's, and I think it shows a laboured and tired effort. He surely > can't need the money, and he must know this wasn't a good book, so why did > he go ahead with its publication? > June > > _____ > > From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Shell > Sent: 01 January 2013 21:59 > To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ebooktalk] Back to Blood. > > > Well, I've read some fantastic Tom Wolfe books over the years. My favourite > being A Man In Full, which I still think ranks in my top ten favourite books > of all time. However, as we've discussed, I found this one very difficult > to get through. I didn't like any of the characters and wasn't really > interested in what happened to them, the story-line was disjointed and > seemed to wander off for long periods of time. I thought about giving up > several times and would have done if it hadn't been a Tom Wolfe and I kept > hoping it would pick up. However it never did and I was really disappointed > in it. I hope his next book is back to his usual standard. > Shell. > > > _____ > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2637/5501 - Release Date: 01/01/13 > > _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2637/5503 - Release Date: 01/02/13