Rating: 
Summary: A sad commentary on racism in America
Review: It is obviously hard to be a great fiction writer although Dr. Carter makes a good attempt. Non-fiction writers revel in inordinate detail, fiction readers for the most part prefer to be entertained rather than work at remembering layers of subplot and characters. The main character sadly reminded me of Woody Allen without the humor, carrying the guilt and inadequacies of everything that made him a unique person, but wearing it as a burden that forever slumped his shoulders and caused him to struggle in a world that he perceived as primarily black and
white. Hopefully this is not a view that is shared by many of the
"darker nation". If it is, then many of us have been deluded into thinking that the world has become steadily and progressively more colorblind. I sincerely hope that Dr. Carter is wrong.
Rating: 
Summary: Thoroughly engrossing. Read this novel straight through.
Review: Bravo! Most entertaining. Mr. Carter created a wonderful imaginary world. I read it in 2 days, straight through to the end of the author's comments at the end.(again, amusing and in character). I feel that not only have I met and come to understand a group of characters, I have learned something about the world and about myself.
Thank you Mr. Carter. I look forward to your next novel. I hope it is 1000 words longer.
Rating: 
Summary: An intelligent book for intelligent readers
Review: If pop fiction and books that are written like made-for-TV scripts are your preference, stay away from the Emperor of Ocean Park. This is an old-fashioned novel written for those who like to savor the reading experience. I loved the writing, the story, the political analysis and best of all the diversity of the African-American characters in the story. They were from all walks of life crossing socio-economic, income and political lines. A fact that is all too rare in today's literary world. This is an intelligent book for intelligent readers. Carter uses a myriad of references to literary classics, chess, politics, law and more. You have to pay attention and you have to keep up. This was as much a story about one man's journey to self-awareness as it was about the mystery Talcott's father, the Judge, left for his son to resolve. What I didn't like about the book included the author's habit of telling us the outcome before he told us the event. It seemed redundant and became annoying as you moved closer to the resolution of the mystery. Secondly, each chapter ended with a sentence(s) that added unneccessary melodrama to what I think was supposed to be a lead-in to the subsequent chapter. Overall, for a first time novelist, Mr. Carter represents himself well. He doesn't take the easy way out with this book; he works hard at telling the story, his characters work hard with their various schemes and readers work hard at unraveling this very plausible mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Like a fine meal prepared by a skilled chef!
Review: Into a world of instant gratification and quick sitcom/mini-drama type resolution comes a fabulous new novel by Stephen Carter. Judge Oliver Garland, a feared, respected, and misunderstood man, is dead of an alleged heart attack. As his family, friends, former colleagues and other assorted denizens gather together to pay last respects (or at least plot underhanded political manuevers), the reader begins to suspect that not all is as it seems. Enter Talcott Garland, second eldest son of "The Judge", and the one riddled with the most self-doubt and angst. His father's death has created a vacuum in Tal's world that is quickly filled with conspiracies and danger. Carter takes his own, sweet time unraveling his story, much to the benefit of the reader, introducing paranoid plots and many red-herrings along the way. At first I found the lengthy read daunting, but settled into the lyrical language and ever-deepening plot comfortably. It's refreshing to find an author who takes his time to unravel his story rather than rushing through. By the end of "The Emperor of Ocean Park", I felt I knew all of the characters very well...a rare find in many modern reads. In fact, reading "The Emperor..." was like enjoying a fine meal prepared by a skilled chef, delicious and hugely satisfying. I heartily recommend buying this book, cancelling all of your appointments, unplugging the phone, and digging in!
Rating:
Summary: A First !!!!
Review: I loved this book. It was wonderful to read a mystery novel with a Black protagonist that wasn't a ex-con, cop, or a detective: but an intellectual and a legal scholar. I loved the pace, the interplay, and the intrigue on so many levels. The glimspe into the life of the Black upper-class is a welcome one.As someone who rented on the Vineyard, "the way it was before",and was not in Jack and Jill, it brought back memories of a different time.
The only reason I did not give this book a five star rating is the editing. I agree with several others that some characters could have been merged or omitted and some of Garland's musings streamlined. I did find myself lost amongst the characters and having to look back to refresh my recollections, but that is the fault of the editors. I throughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to any one whose enjoys a good mystery. Write on Brother !!! I look forward to your next book !
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: The book's main character is so self-important, race-conscious and unlikable that it makes the book very hard to read.
Rating:
Summary: Overrated
Review: The book's main character is so self-important, race-conscious, and unlikable that it is very hard to turn the pages of this book. In the words of Bono, don't believe the hype.
Rating:
Summary: Murder and intrigue among the talented tenth
Review: I was drawn to this novel as the plot is centered on the black bourgeoise. It is very long, and takes some commitment, but Carter is a skilled storyteller with a complex, creative imagination. Furthermore, it offers an interesting view of academia and the legal profession. "The Emperor of Ocean Park" is perhaps most successful in depicting how two parallel, albeit unequal, societies exist in the United States -- described by the author as the "darker" and "paler" nations. His depictions of the massive egos and prevalent clay feet in academia are on target. Also, he also offers a number of interesting, and ironically amusing observations on unconscious condescension of white liberals interacting with blacks and the continued predominance of racism, albeit often subconscious. This probably would have been a better book if 200 pages shorter. Additionally, after careful and exceedingly gradual progression of the mystery four fifths of the way through the novel it accelerates in an increasingly bizzare and implausible fashion in the end. Carter does offer some important observations on the importance of family and personal relationships, and the impact upon them and happiness caused by the quest for success. I thought this was a very worthwhile novel. Perhaps not the greatest literature, but the insights it offers on the top tier of black society, de facto segregation, academia, the legal profession, and the value of life make it a good investment of time.
Rating:
Summary: annoyingly repetitive and cutesy, forced familiarity
Review: If I had read the first few pages to preview the writing style, perhaps I wouldn't have bothered to buy it. Unfortunately, I bought it simply because I found the writer's interview by Charlie Rose very interesting. The author needs more practice writing fiction. There are problems with the narration (too familiar, forced) and description (unnecessary and repetitive). I couldn't involve myself in the story because I was so aware of the narrator being so overly descriptive of every person in his presence. A passing character whose only line in the story is pretty much "Hi, Professor" deserves a paragraph-long physical description, and central characters are constantly redescribed. The cutesy nicknames given to every major character are pretty sickening. Every time the narrator came across a certain colleague in his thoughts or presence he refers to her as "Dear Dana" because of an public letter she once received. Come on! Every time? This 600+-page book seriously needs editing, and not just because of the length. I read about 160 pages and then started skipping around just to see if I could get past the annoying parts, which proved impossible, so I just gave up.
Rating:
Summary: insomniacs delight
Review: What a lot of long-winded, stream-of-consciousness, plot- destroying, self-indulgent drivel. Other reviewers have suggested that the Editor is to blame - but I cannot even imagine an editor who would have agreed to edit this book. Edit it properly and it becomes a pamphlet. Buy at your peril - unless you are a chronic insomniac.
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