The Brothers K

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good novel, but it could've been better...
Review: This was a good book. I liked some of the characters, but some of them weren't very well written.

Rating:
Summary: Requisite for My Future Husband
Review: Jesus of Nazareth Himself could drop to one knee and propose, but if he hasn't read this book, I'm going to have to give Him the Heisman. I've made every man I'm close to read this book and no one has ever been disappointed. Which is NOT to say it's just for men. It's for anyone who appreciates any one or more of my favorite things: family, religion, baseball, literature and/or history. As cliche as it sounds, this book truly changed my life. Every so often I find myself thinking about the characters and missing them as if they were members of my own family!!! It is, without question, my all time favorite novel. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND READ THIS BOOK ASAP.

Rating:
Summary: A brilliantly-written, moving account of an amazing family
Review: The Brothers K takes us into the Chance family and allows us to share their joys, their pain, and the uniqueness of each member's fascinating and distinctive personality. Through Kincaid's eyes we are privileged to know each brother, sister and parent, and revel in their astounding perceptions and wit.

Rating:
Summary: The Great American Novel
Review: Simply one of the best American novels of the late 20th century. I am re-reading it now, something I almost never do as there are too many books to read and too little time -- but this one merits it.

Rating:
Summary: Duncan equals Dostoevsky
Review: I am one who holds the opinion that The Brothers Kharmazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky is the greatest novel ever written. So when I picked up David James Duncan's The Brothers K, it was naturally with a good deal of skepticism. Anyone who wanders into the subject matter of the master, and even presumes to title his book similarly, had better live up to Dostoevsky's genius. Duncan's novel is nothing like Dostoevsky's and yet it is everything like it. More importantly, Duncan equals Dostoevsky's philosophical scope, religious insight, and understanding of the complexity of family relationships. And through it all, he manages to be fall-down, pee-your-pants funny. This is a terrifically entertaining novel of vast spiritual importance. Duncan is in every way as good as the master.

Rating:
Summary: Dostoyveski would be proud!!
Review: I don't fish, and I HATE baseball, but it just doesn't matter when you are reading a book by David James Duncan. It's the characters who matter. It's the relationships. And the feelings you feel as you read. I have recomended this book to SO many friends, and have bought more copies for gifts than I can remember. I read it for the first time on a trip to Canada, the second time on a trip to South America, and now a third time while I procrastinate with this pile of work here in front of me. It's just one of those books that draws you in, and you become a part of it... Let youself become a part of it!

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ!
Review: I have read all three of David James Duncan's books and loved them all. The Brothers K hooks you in on page one as you sit with him in his father's arms, and it doesn't let go as he takes you into the family and beyond. His other books are just as wonderful and his short stories leave lasting images. I can't wait for his next book although it has been 3 years, I am still waiting. I reread River Teeth every now and again but I sure hope he soons releases a new book. He makes me laugh out loud and moves me to tears. I hope he writes at least 20 more!

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS PURE ART
Review: Being a native Oregonian and having a husband who is a baseball fanatic, I suppose it was only a matter of time until I found my way to THE BROTHERS K. It is without doubt, the most entertaining and fulfilling novel I have ever read. The 700 pages went too fast! I grew to love the Chance family as I laughed and cried with them through the pages of Duncan's opus, and I postponed reading the last pages as long as I could, simply because I did not want it to end. Duncan provides an unbelievably complex, yet brilliantly clear portrait of a family as it comes of age, careening through the turmoil of adolescence, religion, war, sickness and love. THIS BOOK IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE IN ANYONE'S HOME LIBRARY!

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable literary experience
Review: I read this book 3 years ago while riding the trains around Europe. To this day, when I am conversing on the topic of good books, this immediately springs to mind. It has heart, it has compelling characters, it has something to make you laugh, cry, think, and more. I recommend it to anyone looking to truly experience a good book.

Rating:
Summary: More Than A Good Read
Review: When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I was moved by Vonnegut, Kesey, and Robbins. Now I am in my forties and those books don't elicit the same sort of response. This book does. It's the best of the late sixties and early seventies literature with the added maturity that twenty five or thirty years of experience brings. Reading The Brothers K has been a most entertaining reminder of the way things were, the way things still are, and the fundamental values of family life. It has affected my attitude and perspective, even my behavior. I've actually become more tolerant of the day to day foibles of my own three sons (at least temporarily) since diving into the world of the Chance brothers (thank you, David Duncan for that above all). The other readers' comments can fill you in on the plot and characters; I'll just say this -- if a 700 pate book seems too long, just read Book One -- 110 pages. Chances are, you'll be hooked on the Chances, and be the better for it.