Rating: 
Summary: Shall I Project a World?
Review: "Shall I project a world?" asks Oedipa Maas in Thomas Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49". That is what Siri Hustvedt has done magnificently in "The Enchantment of Lily Dahl". She shows us the world of Lily, a 19-year old who lives in a small town in Minnesota, replete with Norwegian Bachelor Farmers (to borrow from Garrison Keillor) and various other strange and quirky characters. Lily works in a diner but aspires to be an actress and has, in fact, been cast as Hermia in the local production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She feels a special affinity with Marilyn Monroe and uses her as an inspiration. This is the year of taking risks for Lily! The description of the way she brings herself to the attention of Ed Shapiro, former professor turned full-time painter, who lives opposite her is both erotic and mesmerizing - it is almost as though the scene is happening in a dream. There is a dreamlike atmosphere throughout the book and a feeling of compulsion where Lily is concerned. We often feel that she has no choice but to follow her feelings and desires. Her relationship with Mabel, a former professor in her late 70s, who successfully helps her study her part in the play and greatly improve her interpretation, is very well done. The book is full of surprises and laden with atmosphere. I recommend it highly. Just set aside some time to read it because once you start it you won't want to interrupt it for anything!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Lily Dahl's coming of age
Review: I like realism like the best of them, but when I got to page 8 and read about gobs of yellow mucus, I threw the book aside. Too much reality for my weak stomach. I came to Amazon's website and read some of the critiques, all very positive. Then I wondered if I should give the book a second chance. I picked it up and got a second dose of reality, this time having to do with tampon insertion. Argh! This time I planned to take the book along with other castoffs to the thrift store. Before that happened, though, and because life is full of serendipity, I stumbled upon a commentary on this novel. The critic was very compelling in his praise, so I gave in and picked up the book for the third time (besides, I hate not to finish what I start). It seems that after those very eschatological moments, Siri Hustvedt got it all out of her and continued in a pretty clean route towards the development of her novel. I have to admit that I liked it a little bit. I think she does a very good job portraying the state of mind of a young woman who is smart but aware of her educational shortcomings. The relationship between Lily and her old neighbor Mabel is crafted in a very smart way, because little by little, and way before the end, the reader can see the interdependence that these two women develop. I was very satisfied with the ending, which was a relief after so much of the novel was spent in a dark path of anguish. I was not so interested in the "mystery" that went along most of the book, but rather Lily's thoughts and ultimately, her 'enchantment'. After all, I was happy I finished the book, and you should too.
Rating: 
Summary: Enchanting the Reader
Review: Like 'The Blindfold' a self consciously post-modern novel filled with empty signs and cultural observation. What I felt her central goal in this novel was to capture the human content of a typical American woman, star-eyed and given to thoughts of her image more than thoughts of her self. At first, it seems that the story might be sacrificed for these random but poignant observations, but by the end you are left with a fragmented image of a woman, cut up by the short-sightedness of society and the misogynistic nature of men. As with her prior novel, she always keeps a tight focus on her heroine, but has succeeded to a much better end a carefully plotted narrative. Like Atwood's 'The Edible Woman', the image of what the heroine sees herself to be is eaten by the woman herself, or buried in this case, in order to be redefined by the woman herself. The novel is beautifully written and an engaging read.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting the Reader
Review: Like `The Blindfold' a self consciously post-modern novel filled with empty signs and cultural observation. What I felt her central goal in this novel was to capture the human content of a typical American woman, star-eyed and given to thoughts of her image more than thoughts of her self. At first, it seems that the story might be sacrificed for these random but poignant observations, but by the end you are left with a fragmented image of a woman, cut up by the short-sightedness of society and the misogynistic nature of men. As with her prior novel, she always keeps a tight focus on her heroine, but has succeeded to a much better end a carefully plotted narrative. Like Atwood's `The Edible Woman', the image of what the heroine sees herself to be is eaten by the woman herself, or buried in this case, in order to be redefined by the woman herself. The novel is beautifully written and an engaging read.
Rating: 
Summary: Check out "What I Loved" instead
Review: Lucky for us, Siri Hustvedt went on to write greater things, and we can expect even more of her as she hones her craft. "The Enchantment of Lily Dahl," he second novel, will disappoint those readers who absolutlely loved her novel "What I Loved," an emotionally gripping, sophisticatedly plotted and lyrical novel about the intersections of love, art and life in 1980s and 1990s New York City. I found nothing really enchanting or enchanted about Hustvedt's protaganist in this one, a blond buxom waitress withering as in smalltown Minnesota but hoping for a career as an actress. The story might have been about a young woman discovering something within herself and her surroundings, but instead, the reader gets a murder mystery with a psycho, as well as a handful of caricatured and unbelievable characters who all seem to love Lily Dahl but never seem to get her. Don't judge Hustvedt by this one.
Rating:
Summary: Different...you really get to know the caracters in ...
Review: Rarely have I read a novel that lets us get to know the main caracter this way. Reading this, in a way outstanding, mystery novel, you can't help being "forced" into the life and thoughts of Lily Dahl. I had trouble putting the book away, even though it at times (seldom) could feel a bit long. I do not know whether to call the book a mystery novel per ce, but it certainly kept me intrigued 95% of the time. Defenitely recommended, especially for those who enjoy the works of her husband, Paul Auster. By mentioning this, I do not mean that she has quite the same style, but rather that she in some way be inspired by his work. If you read this, as well as her debut novel, The Blindfold, you will understand what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: Great start... confusing throughout the rest
Review: The book had a strong beginning, and I felt it had a lot of potential. I read about 100 pages and my opinion of the book began to decline. After a very interesting start, I became confused about where the author was going with the story. Too many elements were brought in, and it just became muddled. There were some highlights however, among those, how Lily and Mabel's relationship grew. I was not enthusiastic about this story, but I plan to give Hustvedt another chance.
Rating:
Summary: Great start... confusing throughout the rest
Review: The book had a strong beginning, and I felt it had a lot of potential. I read about 100 pages and my opinion of the book began to decline. After a very interesting start, I became confused about where the author was going with the story. Too many elements were brought in, and it just became muddled. There were some highlights however, among those, how Lily and Mabel's relationship grew. I was not enthusiastic about this story, but I plan to give Hustvedt another chance.
Rating:
Summary: Keeps your attention...what will happen next?
Review: This book is awesome! Being a young person (20), it read very well, using language that young people can relate to. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I found myself wondering what would happen next...who is that, and what are they doing. I found myself talking to myself trying to figure out what is going on! Awesome book, highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Keeps your attention...what will happen next?
Review: This book is awesome! Being a young person (20), it read very well, using language that young people can relate to. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I found myself wondering what would happen next...who is that, and what are they doing. I found myself talking to myself trying to figure out what is going on! Awesome book, highly recommended!
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