Rating: 
Summary: I was Expecting sooo much more
Review: With such an eye-catching title, you'd think that this book would be a real interesting read, right? Well that's what I thought and I was soo wrong. The only way I can describe this book is this: an AWFUL attempt at remaking J.D. Salinger's classic "The Catcher In the Rye." You never find out much about the protagonist...except that he's a... "screwup"...when it comes to EVERYTHING. Throughout the book you'll just be wondering "can anyone really be this retarded?" The reason why even I give this book up to three stars is because you can read it on any of your really, really bad days and you'll feel a lot better about yourself. This book had a lot happening in it... but it was still boring as hell. Don't even bother.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: It took me a long time to get into this book, not the text, bu the idea...But as soon as i truly began to give this book the attention that it deserved, i could not put it down. Page after page, i sat transfixed. thinking, how could this guy kepp doing these horrible things to himself. Every chapter topped the previous one, the story continued to progress until there was nothing left for him to do to himself...i won't ruin the ending, but if you read it i think that you may agree with me when i say that it was very disapointing
Rating: 
Summary: surprising
Review: The way that Nersesian captures language and the cultural georgraphy of New York in the mid/late 80's is astounding. The only author who comes close to such style and grace in this genre would be Brett Easton Ellis. Character development is done quite well I feel, and showcases the potentialy dynamic changes that someone's emotions and life can go through even in the face of small and seamingly meaningless events. This is mandatory contemporary reading.
Rating:
Summary: Not that impressive
Review: I thought that some of the characters, especially the female ones, were one dimensional, and that the plot was very weak in certain parts. For instance, the career woman, Glenn, gives a near stranger the keys to her house and car? I don't think so. Nersesian might know the streets of New York well but I don't think he understands the human heart and mind nearly as well. All in all though, not a bad effort.
Rating:
Summary: Its great! I love it
Review: Nersessian's writing is brilliant. Even with the touchy subject he really writes beautifully. I love this book. What a great movie this would be
Rating:
Summary: Life Sucks but it has it's funny moments..
Review: This is a excellent book! It's full of so many different emotions. The feelings range from good to bad sarcastic,lucky & sad and just when the main character thinks he has his life together one dumb move & his world is upside down again just like real life.It follow the main character Holden who is having a very bad year some of it's deserving most of it's not.It has alot of life lessons in it.All in all It's a good little read but don't take my word for it read it yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: This was the first book I picked up by Nersesian & I got hooked. His modern tone is complimented by the complex thought process of his characters. You feel the anxiety & tension in the main character...that seems to be a nameless everyman...you hate his sloth, yet relate to it. Loved it.
Rating:
Summary: good, but something's missing.
Review: although i enjoyed my overall reading experience with this book, i did not like the fact that Nersesian failed to develope the main character enough. this is one of those stories where to fully enjoy it, you have to identify with/feel sorry for the character, and it just didnt happen for me. beyond that, i liked nersesian's voice and style and potrait of manhatten. one thing i did HATE though was the ending. i wont ruin it for you, but lets just say it was a little too, "life is just wonderful anyway" for me. blah.
Rating:
Summary: life as we know it
Review: i loved the reality of this book, as well as its exceptional use of language. it was...very down to earth and didnt try to be noble, simply honest and entertaining. books like this dont roll off the printer every day.
Rating:
Summary: Bright Lights, Big City 2
Review: Arthur Neresian has written a story that is a poor mans version of Bright Lights Big City. Set in New York in the early eighties, this book is more grim and gruesome, and more true to life than the glitzy Bright Lights Big City. Much of the two stories are similar, with main characters going through what could be labeled as a breakdown, and running into similar instances. This is a story of New York life for everyone that felt excluded in Bright Lights.
Arthur Nersesian has done a very well job on the characters in the book. Starting with page one we are introduced to our narrator, who is also the main character. Unlike Bright Lights though he does not address the audience as you, he talks about himself in standard first person dialog. The main character who is in his mid 20's is just making it by working at a drab local movie theatre. Arthur N. twists all of the characters lives, and makes each one unforgettable, so that we are sucked into his book, wanting to learn more about them.
The story starts out 7 years after the events of the rest of the book. The narrator starts telling us how his life ended up where it is now. Back in the eighties, he had recently moved in with his girlfriend and working at a local movie theatre. Soon we discover that our narrator has been handed the joker card of life, as unfortunate events follow him like a bad storm. Many mishaps and other events, some controllable, some not, happen with such brute force that it would make any other person give up. His girlfriend leaves him after seeing him on a date with someone else and the rest of the book is down hill for him from there. Throughout the rest of the book, the narrator goes through some tough, troubled times. Each event or mishap has its own uniqueness, so the book never tires. Some are even funny, such as the event where he must act as a gay man to keep his job at local theatre and to keep an apartment.
Suspense must have been Arthur's major because he does it and he does it well. Each mishap has its own unique feeling, so it does not bore, while creating a great feeling of immersion in the story. I found that I could not put down this book after starting it. I would find asking my mom to drive so I could read it.
I think what Arthur is trying to get across in this book, is that no matter how bad life treats you at one point, always look for the beautiful light at the end of the tunnel. The ending will reveal this to you, but for some obvious reasons I would not want to spoil this for you.
I would recommend this book anyone willing to spend some of their time with a book. That is all, thank you for your time.
|
