Rating: 
Summary: Houdini couldn't escape trying to read this book.
Review: Carter Beats The Devil is a great, great novel it follows Carter The Great a magician in the 20's who on one show, volunteered the president for one of his magic shows and the FBI invesigates and suspects Carter of killing the President, the book chronilizes his life, the best parts of the book are the magic tricks when Glen David Gold writes there he gets me hyped up. One character includes Mysterioso a magician who tried to ruin one of Carter's magic tricks, however he failed and cannot perform anymore magic. Other parts include Houdini escaping from a locked boiler, and the third act where Carter and a dressed up Devil square off against each other. This is the fun part. I recommend you read this. Other books like these include The Corrections by Johnathan Franzen and Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier & Clay. Grade: A
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Adventure!!!!!
Review: This is truly one of the best novels I have ever read. The story construction is superb, it is extremely interesting an goes into amazing details about the period and magic and vaudeville. I really felt connected!! Glen Gold did a superb job with this. Even the chapter division is artfully done! I know magic and I know writing and I stand and applaud. On every level this book is a masterpiece. I've recommended this to all of my friends. I think Glen is a true magician, weaving life's biggest ups and lowest downs into a magical experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Carter beats his demon(s)
Review: This is a lovely book with something for every reader--romance, mystery, suspense, period detail, and some grounding in historical fact. Above all, however, it is a story about a man and his public triumph over personal demons--loneliness, quirkiness, abuse and abandonment (a tad, at least), and the need to follow his own lights rather than his father's expectations. It is a sweet and touching book, a tale of an awkward and innocent genius. There are a lot of allegorical subtext things going on about the nature and magic of writing too, but save that for the academicians. This is a pleasant, leisurely read with a few passages of breathless suspense and a kicker ending, also some wholesome sex and not too grisly violence--the perfect book for long fall afternoons.
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Summary: I Dare you to stop reading this book!!
Review: I bought this book from a couple of good reviews i had seen in magazines, and i must say the cover also played a part in buying it. The story itself is fantastic from beginning to end. Everytime you turn the page it gets harder and harder to close the book. Highly recommended!!
Rating:
Summary: A Joy to Read
Review: I must confesss that I do not know what drove me to buy this book in the first place. I usually read business books and biographies. But for reasons that I do not recall, I stumbled across Carter Beats the Devil and bought it. I don't usually buy books of this genre. In fact, I am not really sure of the genre itself; Zelig and Ragtime come close but not quite there. I have concluded that Carter himself must have directed me to pick this card, I mean, book.I found the book to be extraordinarly well written. The plot is full of quirky characters and twists that would be unbelievable but for the threads of historical fact (very loose factual threads actually) woven throughout. It's a real page turner and if you stick with all 500 pages or so, immensely satisfying. Over the past two weeks, whenever the reality of current events became oppressive, I escaped into the world of San Francisco of the 1920s painted gloriously (and with author's license) by Mr. Gold. Many a night ended with my wife asking me to please put the book down and turn off the light! I look forward to reading the author's next work with much anticipation.
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Summary: The journey is more important than the destination
Review: I loved reading this book. The language is evocative and the characters fascinating. The plot, such as it is, is no great shakes -- just enjoy the ride! I won't bother reiterating the plot, since other reviewers have already done that. What I discovered by accident after I had already started reading the book, is that Carter was an actual "real-life" person. I already knew that many of the people he crosses paths with in the book are "real", too; I'm a long-time fan of the comedy troupe we works with in his vaudeville days.
Rating:
Summary: If you like Chabon, you'll enjoy Glen Gold
Review: This book is right up there with Chabon's "Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay." Absolutely love it.
Rating:
Summary: Magical Fun
Review: I loved this book. First I should put forth the disclaimer that I am an ametuer magician, so the concept of this book appeals to me personally. However, I also love a good novel and I think G.D. Gold has put together a fine piece.
It has the kind of cloak and dagger thriller action that makes your pulse race as you turn the pages as well as characters that are well developed.
My favorite aspect of the book was the wonderful exploration of its time period and how technology was affecting people's lives. That and just enough magic terminology to keep a magic insider satisfied that the writer knows what he's talking about without giving away the secrets.
Well done, and a beautiful book to own with its lovely reproductions of classic magic posters.
Rating:
Summary: Astounding, Colossal, Amazing...
Review: and all the other Magical superlatives. One of those rare books where the reader is torn between reading rapidly to see what astounding twist the author will conjure up next and reading slowly to savor the wordplay. It will be hard for Mr. Gold to "Beat the Devil" I sincerely hope he takes his time (as he must have with this book) when he writes another, even though I can't wait to read the next.
Rating:
Summary: Escapism Artist
Review: I probably read 2 or 3 books a week. Nothing I've read all year -- with the possible exception of "Motherless in Brooklyn" -- has been anywhere near as much fun as this novel. I'd give it 10 stars if the system would allow.
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