Rating: 
Summary: Better than the dentist's chair, less than NYC
Review: This is a very long book that covers the life of its two main characters from their first day at Columbia to their early thirties. I understand that Orno and Marshall are supposed to have symbolic value, Orno representing the obtuse, hard working midwest and Marshall the depraved, sophisticated city. And the book is well written, no doubt, Ethan Canin has a very elegant prose style. But I don't buy Orno's relationship with Simone, and I never cared what happens to any of the characters at all. None of them achieve the status of "person", they were all "types." Orno is a dope on page one and he is a dope on page 300. Wouldn't being in New York, particularly the time spent with Marshall, make him a sharp enough guy to know that something is up when his lost child of a best friend takes him to a shed the night before his and Simone's wedding. Particularly when it is revealed that Marshall is accompanied by a woman who is more or less a prostitute. There's a lot of classism and regionalism stuff in the book that is mildly interesting, but were a lesser author to write a book with similar content-well they probably have, I just haven't heard of it. I know Ethan Canin is capable of more after reading Emperor of the Air, so I was dissapointed. It really isn't bad though, just not particularly groundbreaking, nor does it have terribly interesting characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Teeth aren't named for Kings and Planets.
Review: This is the story of Orno, a self-proclaimed hayseed from Missouri, who moves to New York City to attend Columbia University. There he meets Marshall, a man who changes the course of his life.Marshall is a genius with the gift of eidetic memory. He's a rogue student, voyeur, classic alcoholic/drug addict, and maybe even manic-depressive. Orno is magnetized to him like an alter ego, and consequently, Marshall is also drawn to Orno, recognizing in him the qualities he lacks in spite of his seemingly privileged background. They attend many of the same classes, date the same women and eventually, after he makes the decision to attend dental school (much to Marshall's disapproval), Orno falls in love with Marshall's more stable and wise sister. Belittling his own stable yet naïve background, Orno tries to make his way in an unfamiliar world, mistaking the dysfunction of the Emerson family for sophistication. Triumphant, Orno manages to hold onto his integrity, learns to appreciate his own father and is an earnest and likeable character. For Kings and Planets is a love story (exploring love between friends, siblings, parents and children and lovers), and ultimately a coming of age tale. Beautifully-written, a fast read and I highly recommend. From the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life," McKenna Publishing Group.
Rating:
Summary: Descriptive albeit sporadic at times
Review: This was my first experience with Ethan Canin. A gifted storyteller, he takes readers through years in the lives of college friends Orno Tarcher and Marshall Emerson. Canin is not subtle in his writing, but he still allows his audience to form conclusions on occasion with little help. I found it easy to relate to Orno's naive existence and to feel irritated by Marshall's sometimes clear indifference towards Orno and life in general. Some of Marshall's qualities, in fact, may remind readers of JD Salinger's Holden Caulfield (although Marshall is not nearly as vivid or complex). Canin is, on the other hand, guilty of providing too much detail at times and straying from the central theme or idea of the story. But this is a minor flaw that is far outweighed by his lucid descriptions of the characters. Some of these do indeed surface at odd times for inexplicable reasons. However, the ease of Canin's storytelling combines with descriptive language and an interesting plot to make this definitely a recommended read.
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