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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “When I ordered Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson from Amazon, I didn't look into the book too much. I had liked Snow Crash a lot, needed something to read, and heard some vague positive words about the book that I really didn't much pay attention to. So I added Cryptonomicon to my order that...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I didn't finish this. While the author is all smart, funny and has good writing style, this felt to me exactly like listening to music from David Byrne : prententious, work-hard-to-be-intellectual-and-smart, so much detail and love for his own intellect but so little gain for the plot or the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Read more than once. Will read again.”
MarvaDasef wrote this review 9 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Runs in two parallel storylines, one about code-breaking during WWII and the other about corporate affairs due contemporary times, but fizzled out in the end to be a treasure hunt, albeit an interesting one. Far too detailed than needed.”
Unseen wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Challenging, complex, educational without the reader realizing it. Multi-generational plot revolving around code breaking, fighting, and hiding gold in World War II, then the repercussions of those actions for the family members & others in the late 1990s/early 2000s.
CRosberg wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Just great. Read if you aren't intimidated by the length (it's probably 75% as thick as your hand is wide) and a challenging read. Fits in with Stephenson's Baroque Cycle.”
“Much more long winded than it should be, "Cryptonomicon" isn't really a book that knows what exactly it's plot is from the get-go. Stephenson's dispassionate prose makes it easy to understand the math he's discussing but difficult to care about the characters. ”
Sam wrote this review Sunday, November 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is high on my list of fractal novels -- however many times you read it, you'll still find levels of meaning and insight that you missed that last time.
Amanda P wrote this review Tuesday, November 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Like all Stephenson, it's challenging, especially the first time. Stick with it. I promise that Randy eventually becomes interesting.”
“Cryptonomicon was just as much fun the second time around. A dimly remembered tale of cryptology and derring-do expanded into a compelling story filled with well-drawn characters and a wonderful sense of excitement and wonder. Even when the narrative overdoes it a bit whimsically, it’s easy to overlook because of the book’s many other virtues.
rdominick wrote this review Friday, November 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Plus, either I am becoming reconciled to Stephenson’s anti-endings or this one actually comes to a satisfying conclusion.”
“A ridiculous story of various times and troubles that holds the reader through its detail and foolish plot.”
Steven L wrote this review Saturday, October 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Good book but I found it terribly difficult to follow the time line...Goto Dengo especially confused me. This one will require a re-read, perhaps two.”
David K wrote this review Wednesday, October 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Although this is a fine novel, with a pretty well-crafted storyline, Neal Stephenson is a little indulgent here. It takes him over nine hundred pages to tell a story that could have been covered just as effectively--if not more so--in 500, and that's just a bit much to deal with.
AfroNinja wrote this review Thursday, November 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Although I loved Snow Crash, and have suggested many people read it, I cannot say the same for this book.”
“One of the longest books I've ever read at around 900 some pages! This book made me actually interested in war and soldiers. I like the parallel story lines between the past and present characters and their interactions with code breaking. It's interesting how through reading the book, you want to find patterns everywhere! But Stephenson is not just a math guy: his writing and vocabulary are amazing! While my attention was pretty focused through the majority of the book, the end was starting to get a little too drawn out for me. Perhaps this book only needed to be 800 pages.”
maria e wrote this review Friday, October 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
