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Most Helpful Reviews
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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “The story begins with a African-American couple (Julia and Lemaster Carlyle) having a car accident, then discovering the body of a man (Kellen Zant) who was left off the side of the road. The couple know the man. Julia once had a relationship with Zant. As the story progresses Julia becomes...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I imagine this book wouldn't feel so dervative if I hadn't read The Emperor of Ocean Park. This book reads like a carbon copy of that one and it makes it very hard for me to keep focused on it. However I'm giving it a 3 star rating because really, it's not a bad book, it's just too much like the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“ Very intriging....kept you guessing till the end. Learned a couple of "new" words too!”
Denise B wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I enjoyed this mystery it was much easier to read than Emperor of Ocean Park. So if you were turned off by the authors need to impress the reader with his extensive voacabulary, give him another try.”
Cheryl F wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Even better than the first. ”
Deb F wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Good book, very detailed.”
Kenny G wrote this review Wednesday, September 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Not enough sleep! Can't put it down . . . another great one from Stephen L Carter. It's on the wishlist!”
Deborah W wrote this review Wednesday, August 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It was a quick read. I really enjoyed Emperor of Ocean Park, so I just had to read this next one. It wasn't as good, but enjoyable nonetheless.”
Bryan A wrote this review Tuesday, August 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“unexpectedly interesting”
linda D wrote this review Monday, August 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Pass on this. Redundant writing and characters. An easy no.”
Sharon S wrote this review Wednesday, July 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting looking into contemporary black culture, but too long and too wordy. Felt like a screen play or effort to be a TV series.”
martha e wrote this review Monday, July 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“ read thinking that at some point it would tighten up and get moving. I finished it. I was mystified. I have a theory, though. The Emperor of Ocean Park was interesting to me because of the subtlety. You didn't know where he was going until he got you there: nonlinear,sort of like pointillism in painting.
Joan wrote this review Thursday, June 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
"New England White" I think uses much the same approach, but I suspect it is a style that while working well for the true topic of "Emperor" is not well suited to the genre of "New England White."
The scales fell from my eyes when I realized that his earlier books where non-commercial, and I expect, very carefully reasoned, whereas his commercial fiction is a different sort of thing altogether.
I read that he got a four million dollar advance for "Emperor, which defies credulity, but I saw it in print so it must be true, right? With that kind of encouragement, why would he not put in the time to crank out another book in a style that was so well received before?
If I hadn't read it, I always would have wondered, so I plodded on. You didn't miss a thing setting it aside.”
