Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Character Study With Universal Themes
Review: A brilliant work. Reminded me in many ways of Anne Tyler (with quiet but real characters) and Stephen McCauley (gay man trying to find his place in life and a role among his own family). The narrative skips - back and forth between Walter as a teenager and Walter appoaching 40 - in the most tantalizing way so that you're forced to keep reading...I find the wide divergence of the reviews here to be, in itself, rather revelatory. But my bottom line is that if you can't find something to relate to in these characters, you're living a too sheltered and vanilla life. I find it enthralling that a woman has written about a gay man with such perception and grace.
Rating: 
Summary: And the point of this book was???
Review: Possibly one of the most boring books filled with the most unlikable, unconnectable cast of characters I have ever read. The reader has to plod through almost 350 pages of the maudlin Walter whining about his boring life to get to the huge climax when the best thing that has ever happened to him occurs: He inherits this dump that hasn't been cleaned in fifty years so that he can stay connected with his extended family whom he can't seem to tolerate. Please!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Walter speaks about Walter
Review: An honest view that peers beyond the isolation that can insulate most of our contemporary intimate relationships; that of siblings, family, even neighborhoods. Jane Hamiltons' abilities enable all to see characters that manage to retain a fabric of cohesion through the narcoleptic nineties, even holding forth the promise for healing in our society. Entirely believable! Surely all readers must find threads of themselves woven amidst her tapestry. Being both sublime and surreal, for me personally, I felt at many times transported. I saw the me in him; my life as but a frog by comparison. Of course this story charmed me in a most magical, spell binding way. Ones' name does virtually enchromate ones' life. Even though truth is often stranger than fiction, I was able to share in and explore the life of another Walter |McCloud| through the Jane Hamilton eye. Her ability as the village storyteller enlivened me. Such a beautifully crafted timeless tale will only enhance and enrich all who read it. As for me, I left with a warm fuzzy glow. A rose by any other name...Walter McLeod
Rating: 
Summary: Rough going, awkward structure
Review: It was hard to keep moving through this one. The back and forth time structure becomes confusing and makes for a ponderous start. Characterization was excellent, I feel like I really got to know and like the characters as people, but there were many times when I wanted to just drop it out of frustration.
Rating:
Summary: Great cure for insomnia
Review: I am an avid reader and rarely leave a book unfinished. I am half way through this one and am finding it extremely difficult to finish. I'm trying to force myself to read ten pages a night but usually fall asleep after a couple. Jane Hamilton is one of my favorite writers. I absolutely loved Map of the World and Book of Ruth. Map of the World is one of the best books I have ever read. I was so excited when I found this in the bookstore and grabbed it anticipating another life changing book. What a disappointment! Although it makes some good points, I feel they could be made in one or two chapters, this seems to plod along going nowwhere. Maybe it will pick up and I'll be pleasantly surprised? I am going to try to continue to plod through it but I am not connecting with any of these characters.
Rating:
Summary: Delightfully Engaging
Review: As an avid reader of most gay fiction, I found Jane Hamilton's novel to be one of surprising clarity. IN a world where she is obviously not a natural to (meaning the male homosexual community) I found the references from the character, Walter, to be candid as well as thoroughly true. I could identify with the things he loved, the being alone with his family, and the connections he made to the other characters in his life. I was able to understand and believe the things going on in his life, from his torrid affair to his friendships, to the ups and downs, to the humilations. Jane Hamilton is someone who deserves the accolades heaped upon her, and I am looking forward to her next foray into the fiction world.
Rating: 
Summary: An awkward, though rewarding, read
Review: "The Map of the World" by Jane Hamilton is one of my most favorite books ever, so I was disappointed with the lack of raw connection in this book. "The Short History of a Prince" starts out awkwardly, weaving the past and present in a disconnecting jumble; it took me a couple of weeks to get beyond the first few chapters. After that, though, it seemed to find itself and smooth out, showing us the depth of Walter's character, and providing more of the surprising insights that Jane H. is so good at uncovering. I loved the description of the swim team at the funeral: "walking shoulder to shoulder, as if they were one organism, as if all that was missing was the costume of the dragon or a horse that would fit over the bulk of them, twleve pairs of big shuffling feet underneath." My theory is that this style (third person, male) was a big departure from her usual (first person, female) and that it just took longer for her to make it flow. But I still think it was worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: fantastic, sensitive coming of age novel
Review: Loved this sensitive book. Couldn't wait for it to come out in paperback, so I could send copies to friends. This book presents a teenager who realizes that options on the sexual menu are more extensive than merely vanilla.. Will make a wonderful film, as did previous Oprah book club selection, The Deep End of the Ocean
Rating:
Summary: Who Talks Like This?
Review: The story would have been interesting if the dialogue had been more believable. But as it was written, nearly anything a character says in this novel becomes an incredible, insightful, three-paragraph-long monologue. You can get away with that in theater, but not in a "realistic" novel.
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: I have read all of Jane Hamilton's books and LOVED them for their deep characterization and stirring emotional content. I am also one of those readers that has to finish a book if I start it and this one I couldn't even get through. This book's tone was much different than her other books. I won't say it was more optimistic or positive it was just more apathetic. I suppose they all can't be to the calibur of Map of the World-- her best.
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