Rating: 
Summary: Yaddo, Yaddo, Yaddo
Review: I almost used the title: How many gratuitous dead babies does it take to make a bestseller? Offensive? Yes. But not entirely inaccurate. This is not your "feel good summer beach read."This is the kind of book that comes out of writers' workshops. Overwrought and over-long with symbolism overwhelming story at every turn of page. Mineral Palace is bleak and tedious. Too many plot points end up being pointless. And how do such cardboard characters withstand such raging duststorms? As a work of fiction, I don't care whether this is an accurate depiction of Pueblo in the 30s. I do care that I was lured into this town with the promise of a good story and left with just a few stunning images (The Buffalo Mass Suicide).
Rating: 
Summary: Compelling and haunting but a tad overdone
Review: I couldn't put this book down. Bena is a complex and believable character, and her psychological journey is spookily mirrored by the barren landscape and the unpredictable weather she faces in Pueblo, Colorado of the 1930s. I wonder, though, if the symbolism isn't a bit too much; in some ways, I think the book might have been stronger without the overdrawn picture of the abandoned and rotting mineral palace. Still, the author deals with many essential questions about the nature of male-female relationships and the limits on honesty in such a relationship. A great book for a book club discussion!
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific book, great author
Review: I didn't know this was an Oprah book; I thought I had discovered this unbelievably great author all by myself! Rich language, characters, and setting. I couldn't put it down. The main character was wise, compassionate, realistic, funny, and curious. Yes, the book was depressing and some of the images of death were unsettling--but that does not detract from its greatness in my opinion. The style of language reminded me of another of my favorites, White Oleander. The only two criticism I have are that the time period seemed inconsequential. It could have been present-day; there wasn't much to convince me that it was set during the Depression. The other problem was that all the characters seemed too wise--there must have been some boring, nonarticulate people in the town! However, these problems are minor and do not keep me from putting Mineral Palace on my Favorites list. I'm telling every reader I know about it--it's that good. I can't wait to read her next book.
Rating:
Summary: Evocative, sensual, enigmatic, eponymous novel
Review: I don't know where to start! This novel is a pager turner of an incredible story with an abyss of emotional depth that will leave the reader spent, shaken out of his or her wooden workaday existence. The descriptions of the dust-bowl and the Depression (the period following the stock market crash of 1929) made me weep more than once. The cast of characters calls to mind Dickens, and the presence of artificial limbs is outright Melvillian. I just bought three of these to give out as birthday presents this year. This is definitely a heartbreaking work of incredible genius.
Rating:
Summary: Good plot - but boring writing
Review: I give this book two stars because of the original plot and good descriptions of characters and scenery. However, the lyricism was a tad much - as if the writer was showing off her writing. I wearied of reading for a page and a half about the looks of a statue or the colors of a flower. The dialogue and characters were what kept me focused throughout the book. However, I do agree with the reviewers who note the author's snobbery. I cringed when Ms. Julavits wrote of the dirty immigrants and their dirty children. I also was angry at the constant focus on the women's inability to have children. "Barren" was Julavits' first choice of words in introducing any female character. I do appreciate that the women's infertility was a reflection of the town's aridity, but I was angered by her constantly identifying females by their lack of fecundity. I suggest that a person suffering with infertility not read this book. I do not recommend that anyone spend their money on this mostly boring and smug book.
Rating: 
Summary: Depressing and inaccurate
Review: I grew up in Pueblo and was a teenager during the 1930's. I bought this book with the great expectation that wonderful memories from my growing up years would send me down nostalgia lane. There was abosolutely no similarity to the Pueblo I know and remember in the novel.With the exception of a few familiar names like Gast the characters were far different from the people I knew well. The Gast's were neighbors of mine. They were well respected in the community and beloved by all who knew them. Julavits depicts Pueblo as being in the dust bowl. In the 55 years that I lived there, I do not recall one single dust storm as she described. I guess if you are going to write fiction, you may as well make everything up. The story itself was difficult to follow because her style of dreamy surreality was boring. The plot was weak and the storyline odd and very depressing. Sorry Miss Julavits, your first attempt was a stinker.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Please - couldn't be more off in this depiction of Pueblo
Review: I have never written to an author or a publisher before although I am an avid reader. I usually read two to three books a week. When I heard about a book written about my home town, Pueblo, Colorado and the wonderful Mineral Palace I remember from my childhood I immediately requested it from my library. I'm so glad I didn't buy it. Although the author is a good, probably better than good writer she should certainly check her basic facts if she's going to use a real place. Why didn't she pick an imaginary town in southeastern Kansas where the Dust Bowl actually took place? There was no Dust Bowl in Pueblo. I was there in l934. Literary license allows latitude but this was ridiculous, specifically: 1. The CF&I was called the steelworks, not the ironworks. 2. Union Avenue was not as depicted in l934, maybe in l884. 3. Main Street which was not mentioned was the center of town, not Santa Fe. 4. The mansions on Grand Avenue were not within walking distance of Union Avenue. 5. I lived in the well kept neighborhoods of the steelworkers and went to school with the "filthy, filthy" children. How insulting to these hardworking immigrants who worked long hours for little money but made sure their children were neat and clean. 6. Mineral Palace was in a lovely park landscaped with colorful flowers and leafy green trees. I went to several birthday parties there. The Palace itself was torn down for salvage during World War II It really hurts that an author can "trash" a town that was actually cited as one of the best in the country in which to raise children. This book made me so sad that someone might read it and form an opinion about a place I remember with such warm feelings. The author, who I realize is young and probably from a privileged background should research more carefully if she's going to write about real places. I couldn't appreciate her writing because of my irritation with her lack of responsible reporting. When I read Berendt's book about Savannah I was aware that he offended some of the local residents but the facts about the geography of the city were correct. At least he lived there so he knew about what he was writing. Heidi should take a lesson. I know this was an Oprah book but I didn't like it. In fact it infuriated me. I would like to have a copy of my letter shown to Miss Julavits. She should be made aware that she there are many people both current and former residents who are very upset by her book. She has been the subject of many phone and email contacts. We have convinced as many people as possible not to buy the book but get it out of the library if they feel like getting mad about something . I would conclude by saying yes, as the publisher disclaimer states, any resemblance to actual events or locales is certainly coincidental. Shame, shame, Heidi, research more carefully or fictionalize more.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I read the previous reviews posted and was surprised at the some of the negative comments. I really don't understand how a work of FICTION can be criticized for inaccuracies. But I won't dwell. Ms. Jalavits paints a bleak picture, one sure to disturb some readers. But it certainly is enjoyable and rewarding reading when judged on whether it is well-written, interesting, compelling and moving. With the warning that this is not a warm-and-fuzzy remembrance, I would recommend this book to any intelligent, emotionally mature reader.
Rating:
Summary: Authentically Bleak Mineral Palace
Review: I read this book because I grew up, in the 40's, a few blocks from the real Mineral Palace. In that Pueblo Colorado of the post-depression, the rotting building had been closed and sealed. The image that the book develops -- of the town and the palace -- while fictionalized and exagerated, evokes a feel and spirit that came back to me as I read. Now I wonder whether all small industrial towns were like that in the 30's and 40's.
Rating:
Summary: Make Up Your Own Mind!
Review: I thought this was a great novel, first or otherwise. Great to me means it takes me to a time and place I've either never been to before, not seen from the writer's/characters' perspective, or a time and place to which I want to return. Here, its a mining town in Colorado during the depression era. The characters are not like any I know (and many I wouldn't want to know), but they were fascinating to meet as the story progressed. The town, mountains and characters are described in such a thoughtful and colorful way that I could see and feel them (or feel for them). While they were all a bit odd, many were endearing. Most importantly, the story kept me coming back for more every night until I finished it (not an easy task with three kids and a two hour a day commute!). I didn't find it depressing, and I don't think I'm a depressed person! And come to find out, there really was a Mineral Palace in Pueblo, CO! All the sweeter! I can't wait for Julavits' next novel, and it won't be judged as her first!
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