Book reviews written by Christopher Edwards

Edinburgh: A Novel

by Alexander Chee

Rated 4 stars

“Sometimes coming of age stories bother me as I critique their interests and experiences. Way too much. Here, and while I did do that, I= found Chee to be such an exceptional beautiful writer that I was often just lost in the story. The imagery, the mysticism, the pace of the writing was all so gorgeous and heartbreaking. Truly a wonderful work.”

Christopher Edwards wrote this review Saturday, January 29, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

Slouching Towards Bethlehem

by Joan Didion

Rated 5 stars

“It's hard to believe that I had read any Didion before, especially in preparation or during my time living in California. She has amazing eye for detail, a certain anthropological remove that allows for insightful commentary on people and places. Slouching Toward Bethlehem is filled with wonderful wit, nostalgia with recognition about the dangers of too much longing for the past. Highly recommended. ”

Christopher Edwards wrote this review Tuesday, January 12, 2010. ( reply | permalink )

Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan

by Herbert P. Bix

Rated 3 stars

“As an overview of 100 years of Japanese history, this is very strong. But Bix has a very clear agenda, and if he often seems to be drawing very specific conclusions out of think air -- or perhaps he thinks he's been very clear, when he details several points (all foot noted) and then wants to draw a specific conclusion of what Hirohito is thinking. Frankly, he's not that good writer. And didn't present enough of a clear picture of who Hirohito is to be able to discover along with Bix the development of Hirohito's thinking.

It's also frankly too long. There's a lot of new names and places and people and things are mentioned briefly 100 pages before they appear again. There should have been a chart or timeline to refer too at some point in the book.

OVerall, I'm glad I read it. It certainly helped me understand Japan in terms of modern literature and movies. But it was a slog that took me far too long to get through. And while parts some parts seemed overly detailed, he's practically breezy in the last 50 pages. And the war sections read very clearly too.

Like my review here, he needs editing. Perhaps there was a feeling that the book was such a revelation (only to American audiences, I think. It's clear the European, Asian and even Japanese press have an understanding of Hirohito that Americans do not) that they needed to rush it to press.

Still it's a good source book. And obviously important. But it good have been better written.”

Christopher Edwards wrote this review Monday, September 7, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

Escaping God's Closet: The Revelations of a Queer Priest

by Bernard Duncan Mayes

Rated 4 stars

“I only had the wherewithal to take one class from Bernard Mayes. After reading this, I realize that was completely ill advised. His story, always told in rumor among undergrads, is even more fascinating and unbelievable that we imagined: survived the London Blitzkriegs to go as an ordained Anglican priest, founder of the first suicide hotline, founding member of what became NPR and reporter for the Beeb on life in America. All while living relatively out and proud.

Aside from this astonishing story, Mayes takes a theological approach to his autobiography and comes to terms with and espouses a radical theory of the cosmos.

All together, tremendous. ”

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Christopher Edwards

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