A Man in Full

Rating:
Summary: The New Dickens
Review: Now we now who Brett Easton Ellis' direct literary descendant is not: Tom Wolfe. Whatever credibility he may've had back when boomers were society's tastebuds is still there now. Laundry lists of socio-economically relevant identifiers. A narrative strategy that totally has subtlety and surprise. The ending says, Ha ha. You've invested financial capital and personal capital -- i.e., moments of your Life and Breath -- so I know you're going to love the ending. Guess what? Some of us retain our abilities to judge even when we find out at the end how great this book was. A previous review stated that if you voted for Clinton, you'd love this book. Wow!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful masterpiece
Review: Wolfe is indeed the present-day Dickens. His lively descriptions are breathtaking. No one, repeat -- no one, has a better feel for the dynamics of the politico-press-racial tension situation that powers modern American life. He understands and relates the racial tensons and liberal counterbalances that motor the machinary of our life. Don't believe me? Read this book and check it out.

Rating:
Summary: Really, you have better things to do than read this
Review: Take the "Tom Wolfe" off the cover and it never gets printed. Shallow, thoroughy miserable characters, not one of which I related to destroy this LOOONG novel. I am a student at a professional school, taking 33 credits, and my time would have been much better spend reading physiology or anything else. I hated this book, and if it weren't for the fact that I paid for it, I doubt I would have gotten past the first chapter.

Rating:
Summary: A Book In Full
Review: Tom Wolfe has reached the pinnacle with this epic. Deep, rich descriptions of Atlanta and surrounding areas abound. Very pleasing character development. Wolfe weaves an intricate story, tying a California Stoic into the Atlanta scene. This book is funny, entertaining and rewarding.

Rating:
Summary: Rollicking Good Fun
Review: There's more generalized hubris in this book than Moby Dick, more twists and turns than a trip down the Mississippi with Huck Finn. Like most great books 'A Man in Full' can be taken at several levels. In this case as a cautionary tale of modern life, a classics inspired allegory of pride and recompense or perhaps as a satirical lampoon of the great American success story (including the great American novel). Which ever of these ways you take it you will enjoy the rich descriptive essays and humour of life in the 1990's. If you're the type who goes into paroxysms of self righteous indignation at anything resembling political incorrectness or less than subtle characterizations of life and frailty in our modern world stay away from this book. Tom Wolfe has a steel tipped harpoon aimed directly at you.

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed the first 500 pages of the book...
Review: The character development was great. But after about 500 pages, I found myself asking, "Is this book WORTH 700-plus pages? The answer was NO. But I have to admit, I have been totally spoiled by The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and Bonfire of the Vanities.

Rating:
Summary: It is the most beautiful thing i've ever seen..
Review: It is great Yesssssssss sir

Rating:
Summary: If you like Tom Wolfe, you'll like this.
Review: If you don't like Tom Wolfe, don't read this. If you like Tom Wolfe, you'll like this. A lot. I loved Bonfire and this is almost as good. His characters are just as real, with good and bad points for all to see. It's long, but worth it (for some of us).

Rating:
Summary: Great...Great For What It Is
Review: As long as you realize that this book is not so much a work of literature as it is a great escape and great read, you won't be disappointed. Even though this book is long and drawn out, you will simply not be able to put this book down once you start. The chapters alternate between storylines that occur in Atlanta and California. It all leads to a grand ending that is probably the most satisfying from a novel in the last 25 years.

Rating:
Summary: My new favorite book!
Review: I loved this book. Tom Wolfe has created a great story on a grand scale. The characters are extremely human with extreme human frailties. Humor is rampant throughout, and not a small amount of cynism flavors the proceedings.