Comments on: Review – An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes In New England http://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england Are you reading with a flashlight under those covers, or are you just happy to see me? Sun, 20 May 2012 23:22:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England by Brock Clarkehttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-126198 An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England by Brock Clarke Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:09:12 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-126198 [...] Reviews: We Be Reading Bloody Hell! It’s a Book Barrage Shelf Monkey Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’ Literate [...] [...] Reviews: We Be Reading Bloody Hell! It’s a Book Barrage Shelf Monkey Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’ Literate [...]

]]> By: Serenahttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-126197 Serena Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:04:13 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-126197 I have to say, I agree with your points here...and I can see the ridiculousness of the prose and the characters' actions as a reflection of society, but there has to be a better way to execute that without totally putting off readers. I have to say, I agree with your points here…and I can see the ridiculousness of the prose and the characters’ actions as a reflection of society, but there has to be a better way to execute that without totally putting off readers.

]]> By: Emily Ghttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-26143 Emily G Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:16:08 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-26143 I really, REALLY liked that book. I listened to it on tape (Daniel Passer has a great voice). The writing style was great, which really brought the plot to life. Just the way the narrator goes about describing his surroundings and events is enough to make me want to read Clarke's other books. I really, REALLY liked that book. I listened to it on tape (Daniel Passer has a great voice). The writing style was great, which really brought the plot to life. Just the way the narrator goes about describing his surroundings and events is enough to make me want to read Clarke’s other books.

]]> By: Emilyhttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-19185 Emily Fri, 08 Oct 2010 09:47:31 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-19185 I listened to it on tape and I really, really liked it. I listened to it on tape and I really, really liked it.

]]> By: Erinhttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-17012 Erin Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:04:30 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-17012 This book was hilarious. It was satire. The original reviwer skipped pages. How could it make any sense? I loved it. It was a great story. It was not meant to be realistic. It is kind of a love story to book lovers and a satire of writing and culture. It was brilliant. Vonnegutesque is how I would describe it. I just finished it and could not put it down. This book was hilarious. It was satire. The original reviwer skipped pages. How could it make any sense? I loved it. It was a great story. It was not meant to be realistic. It is kind of a love story to book lovers and a satire of writing and culture. It was brilliant. Vonnegutesque is how I would describe it. I just finished it and could not put it down.

]]> By: JeanDavidhttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-8013 JeanDavid Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:48:37 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-8013 I just finished the book. The book club I am in is reading it, and we will discuss it at our next meeting in a couple of weeks. The title made me think it would be a book like something by Donald Westlake, but it sure is not anything of the kind. I detest books like this. The poor guy ends up serving 10 years for an accident; I do not know what would have been appropriate, but that was bad enough. Then, by the end of the book, he gets another 20 years for similar crimes he did not do, but to which he confesses. It shows how demolished his personality had become by then. I suppose it was a true tragedy, in the sense that his destruction was, at least in part, a result of his own limitations, but for me there was no closure, no redemption, just the gratuitous mental destruction of an individual. I just finished the book. The book club I am in is reading it, and we will discuss it at our next meeting in a couple of weeks.
The title made me think it would be a book like something by Donald Westlake, but it sure is not anything of the kind.
I detest books like this. The poor guy ends up serving 10 years for an accident; I do not know what would have been appropriate, but that was bad enough. Then, by the end of the book, he gets another 20 years for similar crimes he did not do, but to which he confesses. It shows how demolished his personality had become by then.
I suppose it was a true tragedy, in the sense that his destruction was, at least in part, a result of his own limitations, but for me there was no closure, no redemption, just the gratuitous mental destruction of an individual.

]]> By: trishhttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-7576 trish Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:45:02 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-7576 You're entitled to your opinion...and I'm entitled to mine. :-) You’re entitled to your opinion…and I’m entitled to mine. :-)

]]> By: Dellahttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-7534 Della Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:13:24 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-7534 I found it deeply enjoyable, even without the main character sympathetic. In fact, I am writing a literary analysis on it right now, and that is how I found this post. The self-importance and self-indulgence is meant to mirror our ridiculous culture. I am sorry that you all are too short-sight to let the obnoxiousness be the point. I found it deeply enjoyable, even without the main character sympathetic. In fact, I am writing a literary analysis on it right now, and that is how I found this post. The self-importance and self-indulgence is meant to mirror our ridiculous culture. I am sorry that you all are too short-sight to let the obnoxiousness be the point.

]]> By: trishhttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-2451 trish Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:01:28 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-2451 Thanks for stopping by my blog! Glad to hear from someone else who wasn't crazy about this book. :DTrish Thanks for stopping by my blog! Glad to hear from someone else who wasn’t
crazy about this book. :D

Trish

]]> By: Hildehttp://heylady.net/2008/07/15/review-an-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes-in-new-england/comment-page-1/#comment-2450 Hilde Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:16:49 +0000 http://trishsdiary.wordpress.com/?p=474#comment-2450 Wow! Thanks Trish for that dead-on review. I read the first few pages and found them very funny. As I got further into the book I became increasingly frustrated with the total stupidity of the characters, particularly Sam. I too have been skipping pages and am having trouble ploughing beyond the two thirds mark. I read the last page which, based on the absurdity of the rest of the book, I found totally predictable. This is just an annoying book with dumb characters and an odd premise. Wow! Thanks Trish for that dead-on review. I read the first few pages and found them very funny. As I got further into the book I became increasingly frustrated with the total stupidity of the characters, particularly Sam. I too have been skipping pages and am having trouble ploughing beyond the two thirds mark. I read the last page which, based on the absurdity of the rest of the book, I found totally predictable. This is just an annoying book with dumb characters and an odd premise.

]]>