Rating: 
Summary: Another majestic Carroll novel
Review: I've been reading Carroll's infectious novels for about fifteen years. He's one of the very few authors whose books I devour immediately upon getting them. The Marriage of Sticks is his latest, here published with a gorgeous Thomas Canty cover, and an elegant feel to the whole book. The book itself is as smoothly-written as ever, but with an oddly nonfantastic first half, and a wildly fantastic second half. It seems like halves of two different novels, seemlessly woven together. Despite such a minor cavil, the book is still another wonderful Carrollian novel. I'll let him lead me into whatever strange places he wants to go, and I'll always enjoy the ride.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly Entertaining
Review: If you enjoy books of self-discovery, suspense, romance and the unexplained; then by all means, enter into this book without knocking.When I first began reading I thought 'where's the si-fi that was promised when I pulled this book out from under that section'. I admit that even the beginning was captivating, but it all seemed pretty normal to me. I was wondering where the magic was, the vampires, the ghosts, the mysterious twist? But you must be patient, because it all comes pouring forward, slamming into you like a battering ram when you least expect it. Sure, it all starts out pretty normal. Miranda visiting her high school reunion,her life as a rare book seller, but then her well ordered life starts to desintagrate. She finds that she has been reincarnated yet again, and its high time she discovers the truth about herself and gives her immortality away. This book is full of ghosts and 'vampires' like herself, from a kindred spirit Frances,to her high school sweetheart James,to her husband Hugh, all the way to her long time best friend Zoe. She must face the truth in herself along with how she wronged all the people she loved. This book is certainly something new, along with its new and unusual twist on vampires. Forget the drinking blood, for all a vampire is is one who preys on others. For if Miranda can discover this truth in herself, their just might be time to make amends.
Rating:
Summary: Please Enter Without Knocking
Review: If you enjoy books of self-discovery, suspense, romance and the unexplained; then by all means, enter into this book without knocking.When I first began reading I thought 'where's the si-fi that was promised when I pulled this book out from under that section'. I admit that even the beginning was captivating, but it all seemed pretty normal to me. I was wondering where the magic was, the vampires, the ghosts, the mysterious twist? But you must be patient, because it all comes pouring forward, slamming into you like a battering ram when you least expect it. Sure, it all starts out pretty normal. Miranda visiting her high school reunion,her life as a rare book seller, but then her well ordered life starts to desintagrate. She finds that she has been reincarnated yet again, and its high time she discovers the truth about herself and gives her immortality away. This book is full of ghosts and 'vampires' like herself, from a kindred spirit Frances,to her high school sweetheart James,to her husband Hugh, all the way to her long time best friend Zoe. She must face the truth in herself along with how she wronged all the people she loved. This book is certainly something new, along with its new and unusual twist on vampires. Forget the drinking blood, for all a vampire is is one who preys on others. For if Miranda can discover this truth in herself, their just might be time to make amends.
Rating:
Summary: Every segment has some little surprise and delight!
Review: Im so totally awestruck and in love that I HAD to run right in here and talk to you about it! I have never been so impressed with a writer. He doesn't do any fancy dancing--no literary gimmicks...but man oh man, this Carroll can WRITE!His newest book Marriage of the Sticks starts off in a very ordinary way--a high school reunion. So ordinary that I thought, uh oh...I'm going to be disappointed. But then he slowly starts introducing characters that I would LOVE to know! I really really want to sit down and talk to them. Every darn time he taps into something so odd yet familiar, something really appealing. I just don't know how he's doing this, but he writes about such interesting things and thoughts. And I've just read a couple of paragraphs that are worth the price of the book and the shipping from England! (it will be out here in september I think) Where does he GET these ideas???? I'm not saying what it is because it's too savory. You should come across it and discover it for yourself if you read this book. Now of course, one of the notions imbued in the reading of Carroll is a tension-ANYTHING could happen. So every knock on a door makes you wonder who might reappear; every dog that enters a room makes you ask...could this be Vanasque or someone I'll love? Every segment has some little surprise and delight. The main character in this one is a woman (<G>) and she deals in rare books and other precious objects. The incidental characters (at least I think they are) are intriguing and yet unexplained in full. But they have flesh even though they only pass through a scene or two. The ideas....the things he talks about . . . it's like taking a mental bubble bath; I just want to soak and roll in sheer delight. Can one fall in love just by reading a man's words, even though they're intended for millions? I feel so foolish, but this guy amazes me! Again!
Rating:
Summary: Gahan Wilson loved it and so do I
Review: In a recent glowing review of THE MARRIAGE OF STICKS, the great cartoonist/short story writer Gahan Wilson said it was arguably Carroll's best novel. Having read it straight through not one but two times now, I couldn't agree more. Reading the few negative reader's review of the book here, I wonder if we read the same novel.
Rating: 
Summary: frankly a big disappointment
Review: Jonathan Carroll has written some of my favorite novels ever. LAND OF LAUGHS, BONES OF THE MOON, SLEEPING IN FLAME, and OUTSIDE THE DOG MUSEUM are all wonderful, insightful, brilliant. And as much as I wanted to like THE MARRIAGE OF STICKS, I just couldn't. It begins well and tugs you right in, but then about halfway through, it just sort of gives up the ghost (pun intended). From there on to the end, it's a sort of mishmash of trippy visionsquests, with an ending that is neither satisfying--as far as I was concerned--nor actually all that coherent. The characters are not particularly likeable; I never got the sense that they were real people. They came across, rather, as stock players with cool attributes, great one-liners, and the right clothes. And the sorts of little satoris that always happen to characters in Carroll novels, which in his best books really DO make you the reader gasp at the insight, are not, I'm sorry to say, particularly meaningful in this case. They are trite, or cute, or both. Often, in recent Carroll novels, this particular trait of his--like casually mentioned rock bands you never heard of, or Austrian street names--seems forced, as if he knows the readers expect it and doesn't want to let them down. But it doesn't work. If you want something great by Carroll, I recommend one of the early titles. But I can't recommend this one.
Rating:
Summary: Marriage of Sticks by Jonathan Carroll
Review: Jonathan Carroll is hands down my favorite author. His books always have surprises hidden in the pages. Marriage of Sticks was an awesome read! He explains lifes questions in such imaginitive ways you can't help but believe that he knows all! I highly recommend this novel. I have had my whole family read it so far.
Rating:
Summary: Marriage of Sticks by Jonathan Carroll
Review: Jonathan Carroll is hands down my favorite author. His books always have surprises hidden in the pages. Marriage of Sticks was an awesome read! He explains lifes questions in such imaginitive ways you can't help but believe that he knows all! I highly recommend this novel. I have had my whole family read it so far.
Rating:
Summary: Marriage, more magic from Carroll
Review: Marriage, has the same strengths that most Carroll books have. Interesting characters that Carroll delves deeply into. A sense of magic, something not quite right with the world. Enjoy the journey with Carroll. Don't rush to the destination.
Rating:
Summary: Full of suprises, magic and compassion.
Review: Reading a Jonathan Carroll novel is like going on a holiday to a rewarding, comfortable place full of unexpected suprises - jaw dropping suprises, pull-the-carpet-out-from-underneath-your-relaxed-body suprises. Who can Carroll (his works) be compared to? Kafka? Ray Bradbury? Stephen King at his best but on a word count diet? Classic European 'magic realism' literature? All of the above and yet he is unique. Sticks has as much 'magic' in it as, say, Carroll's Bones Of The Moon or The Land Of Laughs but Sticks is more thought provoking than either of those wonderful novels, in the way that From The Teeth Of Angels was. There is such compassion here for the human condition but not done in a sentimental way; deliciously perceptive and very rewarding. Full of gems. I was often in a state of bliss while reading this novel. Reading it on the bus, I twice missed my stop. Thank you Jonathan Carroll.
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