Rating: 
Summary: Not up to snuff
Review: As a fan and regular reader of Blaylock, I was a little disppointed by this book. It does a good job of being scary at times, but fails to enchant like "The Paper Grail" or to amuse like "The Last Coin."A disturbing trend I've noticed in this book is that Blaylock writes about himself; he is the main character in all his books. While this approach was tolerable the first few times, it's getting a little old.
Rating: 
Summary: Blaylock is now a favorite!
Review: I first heard about Jim Blaylock in a writing workshop, and so went ahead and ordered this book. It's not like anything else I've ever read, and my reading is constant and eclectic. This book was such a pleasure to me, that I recommended it to my reading group. Be warned. Sadly, most of the rest of the group were far less fascinated with the book than I. Later, I read The Last Coin, which I enjoyed -- though a bit less than All the Bells on Earth. I will probably buy everything this man writes, and I highly recommend you give him a try!
Rating:
Summary: Blaylock is now a favorite!
Review: I first heard about Jim Blaylock in a writing workshop, and so went ahead and ordered this book. It's not like anything else I've ever read, and my reading is constant and eclectic. This book was such a pleasure to me, that I recommended it to my reading group. Be warned. Sadly, most of the rest of the group were far less fascinated with the book than I. Later, I read The Last Coin, which I enjoyed -- though a bit less than All the Bells on Earth. I will probably buy everything this man writes, and I highly recommend you give him a try!
Rating: 
Summary: Coulda been a contenda!!
Review: I liked this book, but I didn't love it. Blaylock could have made it much scarier if he put more focus on Argyle and all the demonic/golem/black magic stuff and less on Uncle Henry and the doughnut shop, etc... Took me a little longer than usual to finish this one.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: I loved this book! Not much more I can say, since it's been awhile since I read it, but this is a truly memorable novel. Blaylock is at his best when he tones down the quirkiness of his characters and presents his unique brand of fantasy in a more down-to-earth setting. This novel reminded me of some of the best work of Tim Powers, a friend of Blaylock's, and someone who is mining this same vein in his writing. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Page Turner
Review: I think some of these other reviewers are harboring expectations and agendas. When I read this book I had none. I had not read any Blaylock yet. I literally was up until 3am+ 3 nights in a row to finish it! It may not be his scariest but as I read it the hairs on the back of my neck wouldn't settle for days. Great characterization. Strange, compelling plot(s).(Stephen King could take a lesson here on how to juggle multiple subplots!)I can't say enough about it. Truly one of my all-time favorites.
Rating:
Summary: I wish James P. Blaylock were my next-door neighbor.
Review: Magic and faith are very real in Blaylock's worlds, even in suburban
California. This is not the first of his works to pit hapless goofy
good against diabolical, organized evil; but this may be the most
complicated story he has written. Evil, while filthy and pathetic,
is just as human as Good, which itself is not without blemish. And
the characters who come to life as representatives for various shades
of these principles are rich, lovable, and tragic.
There is one character who lives in just about all of Blaylock's
stories, and that is the lovable clod -- the impractical but highly
imaginative hero who is as clumsy as his accidents are amusing. I think
this must be Blaylock himself, and I do wish he lived nearby... at
least around the corner.
Rating:
Summary: Crashing down the hill
Review: This book started out with a bang and slowly went down from there. Blaylock had a great idea, some wonderful characters, but just dropped the ball. He had a wonderful build but then didn't know what to do with the novel and just threw a few unrelated ideas together and ended the book. Because I've heard some good things about this author I'm willing to give him another try and just put this one down as a strikeout.
Rating:
Summary: Beware the bluebird of happiness
Review: This is one of Blaylock's best and it would be an excellent place to start if you're not familiar with this author. The plotting is tighter than in most of Blaylock's books, so the story is intricate and intriguing enough to keep you turning the pages, and the ending is particularly nice. It is a fantasy tale in a contemporary setting, with somewhat of a monkey's paw concept driving the plot(you'll never think of the Bluebird of Happiness quite the same way), but the real magic is in Blaylock's joyously eccentric characters and his ability to make very ordinary people and places seem totally fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Beware the bluebird of happiness
Review: This is one of Blaylock's best and it would be an excellent place to start if you're not familiar with this author. The plotting is tighter than in most of Blaylock's books, so the story is intricate and intriguing enough to keep you turning the pages, and the ending is particularly nice. It is a fantasy tale in a contemporary setting, with somewhat of a monkey's paw concept driving the plot(you'll never think of the Bluebird of Happiness quite the same way), but the real magic is in Blaylock's joyously eccentric characters and his ability to make very ordinary people and places seem totally fantastic.
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