SURFACE OF EARTH

Rating:
Summary: On the Surface of the Earth is Desire
Review: I am a fan of Reynolds Price (particularly Kate Vaiden) and his ability to write the inner workings of a woman's mind. Mr. Price manages to continue that tradition and also interweave the minds of the men that surround this Southern family.

The opening venacular is a bit difficult and has a Faulkner feel but the depth and continuity of the voices he creates are amazing. As each generation in the novel progresses so does the language he uses.

Part of the difficulty with the novel early on is the use of dreams as storytelling. Mr. Price almost has the hallmarks of magical realism but, thankfully, while dreams and their symbology continue throughout the novel they are not as prevelant as at the beginning.

This is a hard book to get into, as stated above, not only for the items mentioned but also the deep loss that this family has endured. You wonder if Mr. Price is trying to portray a doomed family and, sadly, I don't know if the truth about this family is resolved by the end of the novel.

I know this is the first in a triology but I found the ending lacking. The imagery, voice and themes make the book worth a read but it will take time. I believe I have been reading this
off and on for a good three months at least and I usually read a book in a week, even one this big.

Ultimately this is a novel about need. The universal desire to
be needed and to find your place in the world. It is a story about lovers; not just the romance but the dark sexual side of it as well. It is also a classic tale of trying fo move forward but constantly feeling the pull back to the other places and people you have touched.

Again, this is a read that will take time but if you enjoy Faulkner I would strongly sugges this. If you enjoy other works by Reynolds Price this is a bit more cumbersome and you may find yourself a little disappointed.


Rating:
Summary: What's all the hoopla about?
Review: Recently, I purchased this and the other two volumes of the triology. I am mid-way through this one (the first) and I am having serious doubts that I'll ever finish it! I had heard rave reviews about it but for the life of me, I can't see why. Being reared on the area that is the setting for the book, I surely thought I'd be able to relate to it somewhat. No such luck! It's almost like being assigned to read Hamlet in high school! The constant stream of correspondence between the characters is distracting at best and seems to be fillers for lack of something better for the author to relay. I'm sorry to say, either my reading taste is too unsophisticated or this is just a plain boring book. Just think: I have two more volumes to go. I can only hope the pace picks up.

Rating:
Summary: Masterful! Mr. Price has done it again!
Review: Reynolds Price shows us again how a Southern family's life is anything but simple. Two families touced by the beauty, predjustices and shortcomings of the South are brought together to trimphant and fall with deep emotion and determination while remaining true to oneself and their heritage. Beautifully Written. A true beginning to a wonderful journey.

Rating:
Summary: What is the plot exactly?
Review: This book made me wish for something more. I never give up on a book 3/4 of the way through it, but I just dreaded reading it. The pace was terribly slow. Price definitely has a talent for assembling words, producing wonderful sentences. He lacks the overall concept of a plot -- does anything ever happen in this book? This is a great book for an insomniac!

Rating:
Summary: Somewhat tedious but a good read overall.
Review: This book presents an interesting peek into the life of one family in the South around the turn of the century. It was definitely NOT a can't-put-it-down or can-hardly-wait-to-finish-it book for me, though. I found myself frequently flipping ahead to see where the story line would go, as the details became tedious and often seemed unnecessary. I am anxious to read the other two in this series, though, to see how they compare to this one.