 |
|
||||
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
All-Time High Scores
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed books.
|
The Emperor's Children |
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
Messud's fourth novel follows the lives of three soon-to-be 30-year-old friends--all in various jobs in the media--in contemporary New York.
Knopf, 448 pages
08/29/2006
$25.00
ISBN: 030726419X
Fiction
General Literature & Fiction
All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...
The average user rating for this book is 6.9 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Gary D gave it a5:
While it is clear that Claire Messud i a talented writer, and her prose are often beautiful to read, the characters in this book seem more like the walking manifestations of ideas than real people. I the end, I cared little about any of these bloodless creatures, and so cared little about the book.
Grace gave it a10:
The writing is superb and engrossing, that's for sure. But you need time to digest and reflect in the creation of her characters, each meticulously planned word or event, to understand the depth of which Messud in attempting to engage the reader. She has many things to say about modern thirtysomething life, about ideology (politics, relationships, everything). And best of all, she holds a mirror, challenges you to question your own hypocrisys - are you wearing the Emperor's clothing? Is your life authentic or just hollowingly PC? I'd give this 20 if I could.
victoria gave it a4:
I too was disappointed. The characters didn't work for me in a literary sense. I don't need to 'like' characters, but I need to be convinced by them in some fundamental way. The story was good and moved at first in a leisurely manner, picking up speed with Bootie's betrayal. But the quality of the writing itself was not up to the standard of Iris Murdoch to whom Messud has been compared. Far from it. Easy to read but leaving a slightly unpleasant after taste.
Claire N gave it a7:
Like other readers here, I think this novel has been overrated by critics. Although the plot is interesting and well-executed, the place and character descriptions lack density and believability. Language and dialogue is overly formal; the characters don't sound very american, much less new york. I tired of the extensive, detailed interior monologue (term?) and longed for punchy dialogue. Finally, I think the novel should have better reflected the intellectual issues at stake--discussions of ideas were too vague.
Gail F gave it a4:
I too was disappointed after all the hype. No characters to like or even relate to. Nothing happens! I read 'til the end figuring the treatment of 9/11 would have some action. I would have liked to have seen the relationship between the three before they went their own ways. I figure that's where they actually had fun. Nothing is fun in this book.
Dicky McG gave it an8:
This is one of the best new books I've read in a while. Messud is a clever and engaging writer, and I found myself engrossed in this book from the beginning. Half the characters are likeable, half aren't, but all have drawbacks that limit their appeal. Messud subtly builds the dread and intensity of the approach of 9/11. Throughout the book, you're aware of what year it is, and how that day is inching closer and closer to these people's lives. It seems like Messud had trouble bringing her narrative to a close, because I found the ending to be quite underwhelming. The best thing about the book is Messud's character sketch of Murray Thwaite--next to Ludo, he's easily the most despicable character in the book, a caricature of pompous literary elitism.
Scott S gave it an8:
I, too, feel this book gets a bit too much love from above. Folks in the arts and literary scene in New York City should get a big kick out of this. The rest of us are glad were not in it, and are not keen to join it. The Emperor character, a liberal pundit, is particularly well drawn.
 |
Return to top of page |  |
