Rating: 
Summary: Short, sharp, shocking Banks
Review: Although this is one of his weakest works, it's still Banks. And he really is a good writer.Notably, there's plenty of reference in the novel to Japan. From my experience of having lived in Japan for some time, learning the language, culture and way of thinking, I notice that sometimes Banks is a little Orientalist in his references to Japanese culture. There are plenty of exotic cultural and by-the-numbers historical references to, for example sumo, samurai, the atomic bombings, student riots of the 60s and some textbook Japanese psychology. However, this seems to me to be like a garnish added to make it more believable to people who know little about Japan. Like another reviewer pointed out, it's like Banks wants to show his knowledge to the reader, but the effect is that the work has been written by Banks without having in-depth experience of the country and people and results in a gentle stereotyping. However, Banks is an intelligent, reflective and enjoyable writer and I did enjoy the book. It's true that some of the characterisations are rather undeveloped but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad book. In particular, the unusual pacing is such that the narrative lulls for a while, relaxing, and then suddenly surges to an explosive but emotionally-stunted conclusion. Banks is a writer that doesn't seem to tread old ground, creating surprising and thought-provoking fiction. I reckon that for those who like Banks work, it'll be 50-50 for whether you enjoy this or not, but I do recommend you try it.
Rating:
Summary: Short, sharp, shocking Banks
Review: Although this is one of his weakest works, it's still Banks. And he really is a good writer. Notably, there's plenty of reference in the novel to Japan. From my experience of having lived in Japan for some time, learning the language, culture and way of thinking, I notice that sometimes Banks is a little Orientalist in his references to Japanese culture. There are plenty of exotic cultural and by-the-numbers historical references to, for example sumo, samurai, the atomic bombings, student riots of the 60s and some textbook Japanese psychology. However, this seems to me to be like a garnish added to make it more believable to people who know little about Japan. Like another reviewer pointed out, it's like Banks wants to show his knowledge to the reader, but the effect is that the work has been written by Banks without having in-depth experience of the country and people and results in a gentle stereotyping. However, Banks is an intelligent, reflective and enjoyable writer and I did enjoy the book. It's true that some of the characterisations are rather undeveloped but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad book. In particular, the unusual pacing is such that the narrative lulls for a while, relaxing, and then suddenly surges to an explosive but emotionally-stunted conclusion. Banks is a writer that doesn't seem to tread old ground, creating surprising and thought-provoking fiction. I reckon that for those who like Banks work, it'll be 50-50 for whether you enjoy this or not, but I do recommend you try it.
Rating:
Summary: Real-life horror
Review: Banks' first novel, The Wasp Factory, was a surprise within a surprise--a well-written horror novel that was also a well-written "mainstream" novel. Since then, Banks has continued to surprise mainstream readers with surrealistic novels like Walking on Glass and The Bridge, as well as surprising science fiction readers with intelligent space opera like Consider Phelbas and The Player of Games (Banks' space opera compares favorably with Hyperion by Dan Simmons). In Canal Dreams, Banks revisits the type of realistic horror found in The Wasp Factory. Hisako Onada is a Japanese cellist who refuses to fly, yet wishes to tour Europe. Her agent books her passage on a Japanese freighter, and she gets caught up in a revolution when her ship becomes trapped in the Panama Canal. That's one part of the story. Another story line explores Hisako's background, from the sacrifices that her mother makes early on as she makes it clear that she wishes to play the cello, through the very rigorous Japanese education process, to joining a major Japanese orchestra. The background serves as an important counterpoint to the other storyline, explaining that her refusal to fly is based on a true phobia. Banks is pointing out that phobias are irrational fears, that have no bearing on the bravery or bearing of the person. When the realtime storyline turns wicked, one isn't surprised at Hisako's actions or her ability to weather hardship. Banks' horror is like Stephen King's Firestarter without the pyrokinetic, or Thomas Harris' Silence of the Lambs without the psychopaths. Canal Dreams is a novel about the kind of horror seen all too frequently in the news, and occurs even more frequently in the real world. And that is true horror.
Rating:
Summary: not a bad book, but certainly not standard banks fare
Review: having read some of the comments here, i could not help but add my voice. i've read numerous books written by iain banks, as well as his science fiction efforts. every book by him is a little bit different, and naturally this one as well. kirkus reviews gave a good encapsulation to which i have nothing to add but my own views. haven read this book, i came to the conclusion that one of the comments here at least is a bit overwrought. this book is definitely not one that screams 'make a movie out of me'. if you want to read a book that falls in that category, try '48' by james herbert; that's got action through out, while this book only really carries more action oriented writing towards the end of the book, when the happenings lead the main charater to her inevitable conclusion. although i do not find this to be his best book (for me, based on the books i have read (most sf, to be honest) that would be somewhere between 'use of weapons' or 'player of games' which i enjoyed immensely), it certainly made it worth my while reading it. the way the several story threads are mixed, dream sequence, past and present are an interesting way to make the reader understand the main characters motivations, and it obviously doesn't pretend to be world class literary material with it's 194 pages, neat clipped chapters and meticulously bordered setting. taking the book for what it is, i liked it for the diversion from everyday life it gave me, and based on earlier works read, i give it 3 stars. if this was the absolute first work by iain banks i'd read, that might have been augmented upwards a bit.
Rating: 
Summary: Skip it.
Review: I enjoy Bank's non-sci-fi work. At least I did until I read this book. Its pretty terrible.
Rating:
Summary: Skip it.
Review: I enjoy Bank's non-sci-fi work. At least I did until I read this book. Its pretty terrible.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best, but certainly good.
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. This was one of the first Iain Banks novels which I read and I really liked it. Now, with hindsight, I must say that my opinion is that it certainly isn't his best, but good nontheless. If you've never read Banks before and enjoy intellectually stimulating novels, then I'd recommend A Song of Stone or State of the Art. If you just want a nice cosy book which is exciting fun to read and which is more intellectually written than you're average Hollywood Movie/Book, then buy this. Good for long journeys. One other thing. All these people who just say "This book is pants, or bollocks!" to any book, should try writting one themselves. You might not like the book, and there is certainly no author around who can't accept that some people didn't like their book, but I believe each author deserves respect for what they wrote. Especially somebody like Iain Banks who perhaps doesn't writes nice and easy children books, but incredibly fascinating and encapturing books. I certainly enjoy the way when he changes his style of writing. Take Feersum Endjinn, Inversions, A Song of Stone, Use of Weapons, and more. Iain Banks is cool and I hope he writes many more books in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Not Banks' Best
Review: I was a little reluctant to read this book, being half Japanese, I didn't want to read some half-baked book with a Japanese female character in it. Although the main character, a famous Japanese cellist, surprised me. She's not a stereotypical Japanese woman and Banks has done some good research to make her a real character. I was definitely impressed by that (hence 3 stars). But the story itself really didn't do much for me. In the end, the demure Japanese cellist became a satire for the typical "anime" woman fighter, which was a bit disappointing. But like all of Banks' novels, it is well written and very readable.
Rating:
Summary: Not Banks' Best
Review: I was a little reluctant to read this book, being half Japanese, I didn't want to read some half-baked book with a Japanese female character in it. Although the main character, a famous Japanese cellist, surprised me. She's not a stereotypical Japanese woman and Banks has done some good research to make her a real character. I was definitely impressed by that (hence 3 stars). But the story itself really didn't do much for me. In the end, the demure Japanese cellist became a satire for the typical "anime" woman fighter, which was a bit disappointing. But like all of Banks' novels, it is well written and very readable.
Rating:
Summary: The one book the man SHOULDN'T have published
Review: Iain Banks is a Great Writer. Usually. I mean, take "The Crow Road". Or "Espedair Street". Or "Walking on Glass". Or any of his SF novels. But do not take the "Canal Dreams" in your hands. I don't know what caused this imitation of a novel to be published - a contract with the publishing house? A two-year writer's block? Beats me.
All we get is a thin plot (and predictable, too), with even thinner protagonists. Waste of paper.
Skip this one, save time, save money.
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