Rating: 
Summary: The ultimate in complainers
Review: This book has an interesting plot, but he seems (80% of the time) to be either complaining about his marital problems or his dismal feelings about the "paler nation." I liked the story, but at times wished the central character didn't have SO many black vs white issues.
Rating:
Summary: Two books in one
Review: Carter creates an entirely believable character who I had trouble caring about. As a father, I sympathized with his feelings about his son. As a husband, I sympathized with his feelings about his marital relationship. As a son, ditto ditto ditto. However, this book is also a mystery, sort of. The issue is: was the main character's father murdered? At least, that is kind of the issue. Sub-issues and mysteries include why an Aunt is the way she is, why a brother acts so oddly, how much of the father's outward appearance is truth and how much is falsehood? When Carter gets into the action of the book, the writing shines. I want to see him write a straight mystery, because this man can pull it off.
The problem is that he spends too much time repeating himself on relationship issues and reinforcing the impression that our hero has the right ideas about race. While it was refreshing to see what the author feels about race and racism, I didn't care for it in the setting of a mystery book.
Two books: one a relationship drama and the other a mystery. They could have been blended and shortened more effectively. And finally, the writing itself is crisp and effective for the most part.
Rating: 
Summary: A little less more and a lot more less
Review: I share the same likes and dislikes as much of the other reviewers regarding Carter's fiction debut. At times, I wanted Carter to quit going through so many contortions to get from one scene to another (like the Misha nickname, one is led through a twisting, winding path to get to the conclusion of said scenes and it seems as if Carter forgot that the quickest way to get from point A to point B is a straight line) and just get on with it.I think the main problem with the book is that there were too many coincedences and too many characters introduced as a matter of convenience. And the deus ex machina of the hurricane was a bit much, but hey, if you're gonna get it on the big screen you need a big climax.
Rating:
Summary: There is a story here somewhere, but...
Review: The writer, though apparently acomplished in his technical field, could use a writers workshop before embarking on a second work of fiction. I grew bored with the almost continuous stream of 'new' characters that just happened to have some sort of relationship with the character to keep the plot twisting along that where introduced and dismissed every 30 pages or so. It seems that few characters are ever allowed to take on more than one dimension in this story. I don't need to like the main character to enjoy a story, but I ask for more substance to his personality to make up for it. The main character comes across a shallow and never seems to really develop a motivation for his actions, beliefs and emotions.
Rating: 
Summary: few flaws, but very enjoyable
Review: I just finished the book, and I really want to call it a pageturner. Yes, Carter sometimes repeats himself, yes, it could be a 100-200 pages shorter, but still, I really enjoyed it and have already recommended it to a couple of friends. Only a few times did I feel like skipping a few paragraphs, but that was also because I could not wait to see what "the arrangements" were all about. Compliments !
Rating: 
Summary: Not sure if I am going to make it...
Review: I am on about page 350 of this book and am struggling. Like many other reviewers, I think the basic story is a good one, but this book is way too long. The meandering random thoughts are really too much. I am resisting the temptation to read the last 100 pages. As the white(paler nation?) wife of a black(darker nation?) attorney, the whole "feel sorry for me becuase my father was a federal judge, I teach at an ivy leaugue law school, and I only inherited the house on Martha's Vineyard" is again just too much. If this is America's breakthrough novel offering insight into upper class black society, I worry about the impression it might leave unless the point is that a monied, successful black man can be just as whiny and unappreciative as a monied, successful white man. Sorry for the run-on sentence and for being so harsh, but Misha is the most unlikeable character I have encountered in some time. I'll finish the book, but only to find out the end of the story.
Rating:
Summary: from the synopsis, wanted to like it
Review: I agree with some of the others, Talcott's situation is interesting enough to keep you reading. Chess moves are always a nice device to help you work out who done it. The interaction with his wife was just annoying and redundant. The Univ. characters were just not doing it for me. I didn't care about any of them enough to suspect them. Skipped over legal history as distracting.
Rating:
Summary: One way to go through this far too long novel
Review: There is so much repetition in this book, so much dissertation on subjects that might appeal to specialists (e.g.chess, law,)but are of little interest to the "general reader" that the only way to finish it is to skip as many pages as you can.
There are too many characters and none of them are likeable, starting with Talcott Garland. True, not all protagonists need to be brilliant or interesting but this one is a wimp and doesn't know where he is heading. Which is the same with the author.
Rating:
Summary: Conquering the Emperor
Review: Enthralling, commanding, and enticing: these are just a few adjectives describing Stephen L. Carter's debut fiction novel THE EMPEROR OF OCEAN PARK. Beginning the escapade with the suspicious death of Professor Talcott Garland's father, Judge Oliver Garland, Carter takes his readers on a whirlwind journey into the life of one of the only African-American professors tenured at an Ivy League law school.
Having lived a highly controversial and politically debatable life, Judge Garland made many enemies, and most of them surfaced after his death, all battling each other to ascertain the infamous "Arrangements" the judge left behind. However, the whereabouts of the "Arrangements" were entrusted to Talcott posthumously by his father in forms of riddles and clues, and uncovering his father's secret threatens to take a devastating toll on Talcott's marriage, his career and his very life. Readers search with Talcott as he struggles to maintain his family, his status at the law school, and his very sanity while traveling the eastern seaboard searching for the cure to the mental strain his father imposed on him. Digging through his family's past and unearthing deadly secrets that should never see daylight, Talcott wanders in over his head and soon realizes, among other things, just the man his father was...and, consequently, just how much in danger he and his family really are.
Stephen L. Carter has written a novel that deals just as brazenly with American politics as it does with the work involved in preserving family. The characters he creates are bold, alive, and literally jump off the page and into your mind. He does an excellent job of depicting race relations in America, in the judicial
system, and in high society, while keeping the reader entertained with the mishaps and downfalls of Professor Garland. Aside from being extremely verbose
and dry in spots, The Emperor Of Ocean Park is beautifully constructed and Carter proves to be a remarkably creative storyteller. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great law driven mystery with outstanding plot twists, well-written characters, and vividly defined scenery. I applaud Carter for devising a social commentary that remains true to the African American culture. Reviewed by Natasha T.
Of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: All in all, I liked the book
Review: Even though this book was way TOO LONG, Carter was redundant at times, and there were too many characters, I did enjoy reading this book. Otherwise, there is no way I could have conquered all 654 pages. I was fascinated by the story that Talcott Garland, the primary character, told in such descriptive language. I found the relationship with his wife and sister very interesting. The mystery with the arrangements turned out to be a bit hoggie, but it kept the reader going because you just had to find out what they were. I think Mr. Carter has a promising career if only his editor is more persistent at actually editing.
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