For the first quarter of this book, I thought it was going into my desert-island-10. However, by the end I wanted it over SO BAD. Overall, I have to say I disliked it, but some of the details, images, characters and subplots are so compelling that I can't just dismiss it so easily. In fact, I think I'm madder about it than if had just been a crappy book.

Helprin kept breaking my heart by breaking his own rules of the world he created. He relied on coincidence instead of logical storytelling. He forced (rather than gently inserted) obvious political views into the storyline. He dropped delightful subplots for no apparent reason. He offered up a dissatisfying ending. He needed an strong-willed editor!

But some of his images and characters will live inside me for a long long time, and for those, it was worth it. Read it. You should. Sections of it are sublime, most of the rest is at least good if not great, and you can skim the crappy parts.