Samantha Hunt's The Invention of Everything Else
My review of The Invention of Everything Else here. Bonus points will be awarded to (1) anyone who reads it and (2) anyone who can identify which article by which writer informed this tangential approach to reviewing, which I have promised not to repeat...too often.
posted by Anne C. | 7:12 am
15 Comments:
I can't guess with article influenced you, because your piece didn't feel all that tangential to me. So I can't get the xtra bonus points. Waa. But I did enyou your review. I'm not brave enough to write less than enthusiastic reviews. But there was something nice about your review because you were fair about the books strengths even in saying that it fell flat for you. I can tell, because despite your opinion making sense I feel like the review makes me want to read the novel. That's a really good thing.
Awesome! That was my goal. I feel that this is a book that many people (not me!) will enjoy, and I hoped to incite their curiosity. Please read it and report back.
Born in outer space? Are we dealing with an inventor or a follower of Scientology?
Using something like that as a legitimate reference would make me hesitate to take it seriously, but I would read the piece out of curiosity. Perhaps you really did what you set out for!
The cult of Tesla is as interesting as Tesla himself. Maybe a composite of his character would be more enticing to me, but like you, Anne, I think I would rather read an enthusiastic bio than extrapolated fiction on someone so interesting. It's feels like the author could be coasting on a bit.
PS: What article are you referring to? I must be from McSweeney or Believer, no?
Great review, Anne, it sparked some interest in the book for me too. I enjoyed your comments on Eggers and the McSweeney circle as well - I'm reading Eggers 'heartbreaking work of genuis' (or whatever - can never remember the hugely long title) book right now. ~Jen
Excellent review, Anne. So many reviews offer nothing of a critical nature, only praise or, worse, just a summary of the book. Of course, I'm hoping for those praise-only reviews when my book comes out.
I agree that you are a good critical book reviewer! And this is my favorite line: "A woman named Storm accused the first man to make his own lightning of being an alien? How sincerely wonderful!" Wait, I guess that's 2 lines.
I just started this book and am completely loving it so far. Then again, I'm only about 30 pages in. I'm probably biased too, since I loved her first book so very much.
Hopefully you spark lots of interest in her book! I think that's what all writers want...
Amy, I'm glad you're not offended, either as a novelist or as a fan.
p.s. Did anyone notice the unfortunate typo where the book is called The Invention of Something Else? Yikes.
Ha! Well, I happen to think it's okay for different people to have different opinions about books (it's a free country after all. Oh wait...well, here in America anyway.)(Oh, I'm so funny) -- although obviously I LOVE her writing and am loving the book. It's okay. We can still be blogfriends.
As far as being a novelist...I have yet to encounter the weird world of having my book reviewed, but it's coming up fast. Well, hopefully, anyway. Oy. It's pretty scary. So who knows how I'll feel then!
Time will tell, gentle Canadians. Time will tell.
Are you going to read your reviews? (Tricia, this question is for you as well. For anyone who doesn't know, her first book is also due out this spring.)
I'm absolutely going to read my reviews, Anne, even the ones that make me cry.
Oh Tricia! I pre-ordered your book online today!!!! I can harly wait to receommend it to my book club. Have you purchased beautiful bookplates yet for your out of town fans????
That IS exciting, Jen! Thank you so much. I haven't gotten the bookplates yet, but I plan to.
Great review. I was thinking of checking this book out, and I probably still will. Tesla was such a weird/brilliant guy.
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