The Ten Thousand Things (Library of the Indies)

Rating:
Summary: Mysterious and lovely
Review: Dermout's classic novel is the kind the New York Review of Books Classics loves to bring out: a cult favorite with a one-of-a-kind flavor. The dreamy, simple tone belies the extreme formal complexity of the work: actually consisting really of a novella and several appended tales, the work brings everything together at the conclusion. This is a book to be read and re-read; its mysteries are not readily plumbed but are rewarding nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: Finely crafted
Review: Maria Dermout's 'The Ten Thousand Things' is a finely crafted piece of writing. This really is a classic in so many ways. A brilliant book well worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful & True to the Place
Review: Much has been said in praise of this book before, so I would only like to add that not only is it beautifully written, but it also reflects a deep understanding of the place where the story unfolds. Thus the author paints a realistic (though sad) picture of the Moluccas and their people, rather than just using them as an exotic background to her story.