Customer Reviews

Oasis: A Novel

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

laureen vonnegut writes in a sparse but engaging style delivering a story that is gripping, slightly surreal (camel transport and a sassy red skirts co-exist and desert dwellers in burkas speak in american slang), and peppered with dry humor ( a large woman is described as "a mosque unto herself"). adventure, mystery and socio-political comment in a true page-turner - it kept me up most of the night.

Oasis brings together a bizarre group of characters centered around a lovely but distressed Russian girl who only seeks to die for the third time. The writing is beautiful and artful, and the images conjured up stick with you long after you put down the book. Despite the evident living hell of the Western Saharan desert, the book makes the reader want to visit, if only to run into the group of peculiar misfits depicted in the book. The reality of Cannery Row always let me down in that respect, but maybe this place is worth the trip?

This was a riveting page-turner filled with mysterious characters, interesting geographic lore and beautifully chosen words. I could not leave my seat once I started reading this book.

Laureen Vonnegut has a unique style and a brilliant imagination. Her sense of humor adds to the enjoyment of this book. This story, though at times a little hard to follow, takes the reader on a quirky journey - back and forth from Russia to an oasis on the Moroccan desert. The characters are interesting, to say the least, and the story "out of this world". Read it and you'll see what I mean.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it... the story is so vivid in the way that Vonnegut describes the settings, characters, clothes, Lili's reflections, etc. There is no waiting to get into the book... from the first page, you know you are in for a literary adventure.

Please see lvonnegut.com for more reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Book me a flight, November 15, 2006
By TheUgliest (Istanbul, Turkey)

Oasis brings together a bizarre group of characters centered around a lovely but distressed Russian girl who only seeks to die for the third time. The writing is beautiful and artful, and the images conjured up stick with you long after you put down the book. Despite the evident living hell of the Western Saharan desert, the book makes the reader want to visit, if only to run into the group of peculiar misfits depicted in the book. The reality of Cannery Row always let me down in that respect, but maybe this place is worth the trip?
______________________________________________________

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Creative author and amazing story!, November 14, 2006
By Kimcita (San Salvador, El Salvador)

This was a riveting page-turner filled with mysterious characters, interesting geographic lore and beautifully chosen words. I could not leave my seat once I started reading this book.
__________________________________________________


2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Brilliant desert adventure, November 11, 2006
By Frankie B (San Diego, CA)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it... the story is so vivid in the way that Vonnegut describes the settings, characters, clothes, Lili's reflections, etc. There is no waiting to get into the book... from the first page, you know you are in for a literary adventure.
____________________________________________________

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
a great first novel, November 16, 2006
By Mary Grul (forestville, ca.)

laureen vonnegut writes in a sparse but engaging style delivering a story that is gripping, slightly surreal (camel transport and a sassy red skirts co-exist and desert dwellers in burkas speak in american slang), and peppered with dry humor ( a large woman is described as "a mosque unto herself"). adventure, mystery and socio-political comment in a true page-turner - it kept me up most of the night.
________________________________________________

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
A Most Creative Oasis, December 20, 2006
By Joanne Hoemberg (Fremont, California USA)

Laureen Vonnegut has a unique style and a brilliant imagination. Her sense of humor adds to the enjoyment of this book. This story, though at times a little hard to follow, takes the reader on a quirky journey - back and forth from Russia to an oasis on the Moroccan desert. The characters are interesting, to say the least, and the story "out of this world". Read it and you'll see what I mean.
__________________________________________

Refreshing, February 13, 2007
By NYC Reader (New York, NY)

Laureen Vonnegut is one of the most refreshing novelists I've read in a long time! The prose is crisp and simple and she cleverly gives us just enough-- just enough depth and description to care about the characters and just the right pace and suspense to keep turning the pages and not put the book down. This is the book you want on your next transatlantic flight or afternoon at the beach.
_________________________________________________

Recommended via MetaCafe Serial Readings of first 2 Chapters, January 11, 2007
By Jake West

I was browsing MetaCafe and I saw this clip by Lauren Vonnegut about this book of her's, Oasis. She said that she wanted to bring back serial reading and that she was going to film readings of her book. I found the first couple, read by some sexy blonds and I was really impressed and totally captivated on many fronts. Firstly, I love the fact that an author takes marketing into his/her hands. Secondly, I love the media of shotting a video reading... as she said, it is the time and age for it. Plus, she convenced me to buy the book.

I loved the images that conjer up from her writing, the adventure and the characters (I always hate writing too much about a book or film so as not to ruin it for others). So, in short, read the book and also check out the videos on MetaCafe. I did not look to see if they are on MySpace, but i am sure they will make it there sometime.

Laureen Vonnegut is one of the most refreshing novelists I've read in a long time! The prose is crisp and simple and she cleverly gives us just enough-- just enough depth and description to care about the characters and just the right pace and suspense to keep turning the pages and not put the book down. This is the book you want on your next transatlantic flight or afternoon at the beach.

I was browsing MetaCafe and I saw this clip by Lauren Vonnegut about this book of her's, Oasis. She said that she wanted to bring back serial reading and that she was going to film readings of her book. I found the first couple, read by some sexy blonds and I was really impressed and totally captivated on many fronts. Firstly, I love the fact that an author takes marketing into his/her hands. Secondly, I love the media of shotting a video reading... as she said, it is the time and age for it. Plus, she convenced me to buy the book.

I loved the images that conjer up from her writing, the adventure and the characters (I always hate writing too much about a book or film so as not to ruin it for others). So, in short, read the book and also check out the videos on MetaCafe. I did not look to see if they are on MySpace, but i am sure they will make it there sometime.