East Of The Mountains

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Summary: NO DOUBT MY FAVORITE BOOK I HAVE EVER READ
Review: IM AN OLD MAN. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF BOOKS IN MY LIFE AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS IS THE BEST WRITTEN BOOK EVER. THIS AUTHOR IS ONE OF THE GREATES AUTHORS ALIVE. HIS DECRIPTIONS AND STORYS ALL ALWAYS A JOY TO READ. NOT ONLY DOES IT MATCH UP TO SNOW BUT IT OUT DOES IT. I THINK YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO ME I'M IN MY 90'S AND I HAVE READ EVERY TYPE OF BOOK OUT THEIR AND THIS BOOK OUT DOES THEM ALL. I RECCOMEND YOU BUY IT YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED. I GURANTEE IT. AN EASY,VERY EASY, FIVE STAR BOOK.

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Summary: new book better than SNOW
Review: the best book i have ever read. Out does snow by a lot. With this book This author has greatly matured into one of the best all time authors.

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Summary: Boring, Boring, Boring
Review: Guterson's previous book, Snow Falling On Cedars, was one of my top reads of 1998. I waited with great anticipation for his newest book and was so disappointed. Yes I learned alot about apples and apple picking but the storyline dragged and the main character was not developed enough.

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Summary: This book was a beautiful account of life versus death.
Review: Although this narrative was drawn out at times, I found it to be a beautiful and haunting account of one man's struggle with the choice of whether to end his life gracefully and inconspicuously or to embrace the horror and dependency of his last days on earth. Guterson, as he showed in "Snow Falling on Cedars," is very gifted in tying the surroundings to his story. It always leaves me wanting to visit the sites of his work. I think that has to be a good sign.

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Summary: I cared about this character
Review: Guterson's beautifully written story had me thinking about the protagonist between reading sessions - something fiction rarely does for me. Perhaps those of us who can identify with the author's obvious reverence for the outdoors will find this piece more engaging. For me, however, that aspect of it was simply nice packaging for a story that made me think about my own father and grandfather. I highly recommend it.

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Summary: Not Snow Falling On Cedars but...
Review: It's unfair that when an author achieves the heights that Guterson did with Snow Falling On Cedars, he/she cannot help but fall prey to often unfair criticism if the next work is not up to that same level. East of the Mountains isn't, but few are. However, East of the Mountains is moving and highly engrossing. At first I thought it to be maudlin and overly depressing but as the story unfolded, it became quite uplifting. The writing is generally first rate and such scenes as the two surgeries are memorable. Guterson writes about the wild landscape like Cormac McCarthy and the WWII battle scenes are evocative of James Jones. A compelling read, I finished it in two days thoroughly satisfied by the redemptive turn of events. As the Time Magazine review accurately stated, had this been Guterson's first novel, it would have received much higher praise rather than the lukewarm responses and unfair comparisons to the brilliant Snow Falling On Cedars. Certainly worth the price of a NY Times bestseller.

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Summary: I did not like it and was very disappointed.
Review: This is my first reply to your book review option

I was very disappointed in this book. I loved Snow...Cedars but this one was a WASTE OF MONEY! I expected much better work from this author- I found it boring and very drawn out, so drawn out that I skipped most of the middle and read the last few pages just to give myself closure. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: I don't understand how Mr. Guterson has become the darling of literary critics. The writing in this book is mediocre at best. The protagonist is so poorly developed that you feel no empathy for him. The dialogue is amateurish. The plot plods along without getting anywhere. I would not recommend this novel to anyone.

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Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: This book in no way compares with "Snow Falling...". The characters are so undeveloped they are obscure. We don't know them or understand their stories. On page 142 Ben asks, "What in God's name was he (Ben) doing out here..." It's precisely the question I'd been asking from the book's beginning. It's never answered and it should have been. My advice: save your time, read something interesting.

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Summary: Doesn't come close to "Snow Falling on Cedars"
Review: Rarely do I not finish a book, but I admit to not finishing this one. My interest just ran out before I was halfway through. For me, the story was tainted by images of bowel habits and human decay. The story line could not overcome my distaste enough for me to get through to the end. I am not in the habit of reviewing books but this was such a disappointment. I loved "Snow Falling on Cedars" and actually purchased it twice after leaving the first copy on a plane. On the other hand, my husband really likes this book! I may have to try it again when he's finished.