Rating: 
Summary: Overwritten and Overrated
Review: At 650 pages, "The Emperor of Ocean Park" desperately needed the attention of an editor. The text could easily have been reduced by 20 percent without damaging the storyline.And while it's not mandatory that I like the protagonists of the books I read, it helps. I realize that he's a law school professor, not an action hero, but I tired of Talcott Garland's continued weakness, particularly the way he dealt with his wife's adultery and self-serving behavior. At 650 pages, the pay-off isn't worth the effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Long and worth it
Review: My wife kept asking me, "Are you STILL reading that book?" The answer, happily, was yes for several days. My initial fears that The Emperor of Ocean Park was going to be a lugubrious polemic on racial issues soon subsided as I became engrossed in the main character. Actually, Carter takes on many issues, in addition to race, but he weaves them into his protagonist's musings and other professorial speeches in such a way that I felt rewarded with hearty morsels, not beaten down. To my way of thinking, this book has everything: many characters that you actually get to know and care about, a riveting plot, and a broad canvas for the depiction of law school follies and life on the east coast. I actually felt sad when I finished this weighty tome. It was like a long, terrific meal that you know you will remember.
Rating: 
Summary: Can you say paperback?
Review: Emperor of Ocean Park is really three books. One is quite interesting and good, the second is dull and the third is rushed and poorly done. When Carter is talking about upper class black life he's good. When he's preaching about race he's stiff. When he's trying to do the mystery elements he's terrible. Emperor cries out for a good editor and a ghost writer to fix the mystery. Instead it got one of the most impressive ad campaigns in recent history. Hype is powerful and can make a bestseller but it can't make a so-so book great. I'd say wait for the paperback to come out or go to library.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read this year!
Review: Despite the number of pages I recommend this book. Carter's commentary:social, marital,famial balanced with the mystery provide an enjoyable read. If you don't like predicatlbe plot twist and like to keep guessing this is the book to tread.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction For Chess Players
Review: Stephen L. Carter's The Emperor of Ocean Park has a lot going for it. His main character, Talcott Garland, is a professor of law and a second generation upper-middle class black man. As such, he is positioned to reflect on society from a point of view not often seen in literature. As the novel progresses, racism, classism, political viewpoint and a quest to live one's religious principles are explored as Garland seeks to resolve a chain of events brought about by the sudden death of The Judge, his father. Characters, while well-rounded and viable, are seen through Garland's miasma of depression and misanthropy, and are not very likable. Garland himself lacks some vital element that makes a main character sympathetic. Although I felt sorry for him, I never really identified with him, and thus couldn't bring myself to sustain my interest in his fate over the course of the entire book. Though this could be described as a murder mystery, at over 600 pages it is much more profound than that. At times, the profundity threatened the movement of the plot. Often Garland had figured things out way ahead of the reader, so that important plot elements were revealed only in retrospect. While it's evident that Carter is a brilliant strategist, for me, reading The Emperor of Ocean Park was like playing chess with a world-class player--I was too many moves behind and found the experience (while illuminating) more frustrating than entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: S L O W start
Review: The first 225 pages or so barely kept me interested. However, it picks up pretty well and has really kept my attention.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring !!!
Review: This book was a nightmare ! The first 100 pages are ok, then you have to force yourself to continue, I tried really hard to finish this book but I gave up at page 330. No comments about the definitions "paler nation" / "darker nation"....
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: Riveting story layering mystery on mystery. Greatly developed characters: believeable, multi-faceted. Second favorite book that I've read in the last decade.
Rating:
Summary: The Emperor of Ocean Park
Review: I just finished this book and I loved it! I normally read non-fiction but I was hooked on the characters and storyline immediately. Mr. Carter is a skilled storyteller who has a firm command of all the elements that make a novel memorable. His characters are compelling, and the story works well as a mystery and/or a thriller. I also appreciated his commentary on class, race, marriage and success. He respects the reader's intelligence and challenges you to think about what you are reading. My time was well spent!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books written in a long long time
Review: The Emperor of Ocean Park is simply put, incredible. THere are simply not enough wonderful things to be said about this amazing work of fiction. From it's suspensful story to it's breathtaking writing and perfect pace this book never dissapoints. Right now I am on my knees praying that it won't be to long before Carter writes another novel. This book has been one of the finest literary experiences i've had in a long long time. It is well worth every second invested into it. I reccomend it to everyone.
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