Customer Reviews

Falling to Earth: A Novel

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wonderful novel! The intertwined stories kept me from putting the book down. My favorite characters were the artist who made scenes in boxes, and the working class millworker but the entire novel is full of surprises and thoroughly entertaining.

The biggest thrill I had from the book was daring to buy it in a bookstore I had went to with my whole family. No one knows I'm gay, so the adrenaline I got from daring myself to the lesbian section, looking around to see no one was following me, paying the cashier and stucking the book in my handbag, could in no way compare to reading the book. It was really a dissapointment, I had read comparisons to Jeannette Winterson that I couldn't see even when I tried to imagine them. The book had potential, the story of the artist who makes boxes could work for a whole novel. I had to force myself to keep reading, whishing in my mind that I would soon get to the interesting part. The beautifully written words of Jeannette Winterson were no where to be found. THis book looked like a good novel, not a cheap lesbian story, where you know the story is completely unbelievable but you are still pulled into it... I would have preffered to spend my money in one of those, because they may not be great literature but you still get pulled into the plot. Anyway, I would sugget you try something else, unless you have to see for yourself.

I can see where the previous reviewers had problems with Brownrigg's style. It could've definitely been elaborated upon in places, but I found her magical-realism style rather invigorating. The book of entwined stories, for me, was about trying to let go and find one's creative self again, as well as finding love. It reminded me in places of Persimmon Blackbridge's "Prozac Highway" and Erika Lopez's "Flaming Iguanas".

Not half as good as it should have been. The comparison to Jeanette Winterson was based solely on the fantastical ideas and symbols she had going (angels, &c.) but had none of the prose that makes Winterson great! This was straight plot. Winterson's excellence is not only her fuzzy line between metaphor and reality, but that her prose is rich with metaphor, is so flowing and beautiful. This had no beauty; it was just hacked-out plot. There was so much symbolic potential, none of which was explored. I'm very disappointed. Also, the whole issue of lesbianism was treated rather oddly--it didn't add anything to the book--nor did it detract, but it seemed like just a gimmick.

The biggest thrill I had from the book was daring to buy it in a bookstore I had went to with my whole family. No one knows I'm gay, so the adrenaline I got from daring myself to the lesbian section, looking around to see no one was following me, paying the cashier and stucking the book in my handbag, could in no way compare to reading the book. It was really a dissapointment, I had read comparisons to Jeannette Winterson that I couldn't see even when I tried to imagine them. The book had potential, the story of the artist who makes boxes could work for a whole novel. I had to force myself to keep reading, whishing in my mind that I would soon get to the interesting part. The beautifully written words of Jeannette Winterson were no where to be found. THis book looked like a good novel, not a cheap lesbian story, where you know the story is completely unbelievable but you are still pulled into it... I would have preffered to spend my money in one of those, because they may not be great literature but you still get pulled into the plot. Anyway, I would sugget you try something else, unless you have to see for yourself.