Customer Reviews

One Big Damn Puzzler

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've read these critical reviews and I have to say that some have taken this book much too seriously. Someone accused the author of misogyny and others are saying it's a political statement hating on America... I don't see it that way at all. The women in Regency England had less power than these islanders...and the politics is largely backstory. The American stereotype is no secret; I was not offended.

The protagonist is this endearing guy that just wants to help people on this island get reparation money. He gets to know them and they get to know him, and it is their mutual interest in each of the other's customs that has you reeling! By the end of the book this guy is completely integrated, whereas before, he thought his ways were superior. That's kind of a simplistic way to sum it up, but the less you know about the details of the book the more delighted you'll be by it. This book comes complete with a native trying to bring Shakespeare to the average islander, and I am telling you, I was tickled! I love Shakespeare. Snob that I am, I could not help but adore this book. You can't read it for too long without laughing out loud, which is one of my favorite things to do while reading! Harding crafts a vivid story; one that makes you feel like you've lived there a bit and know your way around. I felt like I was hiking with them in that jungle, like I was feeling the humidity and laughing at their jokes. I felt like those islanders were my friends...I can close my eyes right now and picture them. Even after finishing the book you keep it in that coveted space on the bedside table with the other well-loveds to be opened again and again because you want to go back there. The most critical review said something about the pidgin being horrible, but I respectfully suggest that it is supposed to be. IT IS A COMEDY. Just HILARIOUS. LOL!

I found this book in the library; it was a random selection. People weren't making any book suggestions I liked so I took a chance...and I liked it so much, 1) I couldn't put it down, 2) I had to buy my own copy because I knew I wanted it at my disposal, and, 3) I immediately told any friend that would listen that they needed to read it. Life is too short not to visit fictitious worlds such as Harding's, that poke fun at civilization, 'wisdom,' ignorance, sexuality, and politics. There are enough ideas to keep a book club discussion going for quite some time (as you can imagine from the different reviews posted). The reviewer who couldn't finish the book needed to be reading non-fiction, probably, but for those adventurous enough to lose control in someone else's imagination and park pretension at the door, a highly enjoyable tale!! I loved my time on this island. ;)

My first experience with John Harding. One Big Damn Puzzler was a great read. This book is really 3 different stories driven into 1 gripping finale. Harding does a good job of examining the West's materialistc culture interspered with a desire to help those who don't ask to be helped. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and did not mind the diversions of other topics Harding poses to the reader. A good light-hearted read that has some touching and emotional moments.

We all imagine a being on a tropical island, in the sun, the roaring ocean, with innocent and beautiful natives giving us everything we need. John Harding gives this to us with plenty of add-ons: Shakespeare, OCD, innocence and its loss, and the Western materialistic mentality.

An American lawyer comes to this untouched island, meets the natives, and tries to obtain compensation for them from injuries as the result of left over land mines. The book turns into an allegory of American values running amok and attempts to give a world vision on today's events.

Harding uses humor, literary license, and great imagination to accomplish this task. I thank him for great and thoughtful entertainment.

I loved this damn book. It is unusual and creative in so many ways-- a wonderful piece of art. There is depth to the characters that was very satisfying. This book is interesting, entertaining and delightful. The topics explore OCD, friendships, and culture. I enjoyed this book tremendously-- and want to read Mr.Harding's other two books.

I found this book an engaging, funny read. The characters on the island and the island culture are great. A few of the characters are very developed, while others--including all the women--have little to know depth. Harding's conceited attitude comes through clearly in this book. He blames America for everything. He has done no research on the U.S. legal or compensation systems. His characters are supposed to be from New York, yet all sound like they are from rural small town England (Harding's own background). Only men are lawyers in the book. The island culture is supposedly strongly matrilineal, but there are no women on the island who seem to have any power. He only describes women in terms of their physical attributes. So all in all - a funny read, but aggravating, too.

Mr. Harding's creativity provided fresh storytelling through chapter 62 or so. Here his politically commentary seemed shoe horned in. I don't mind his views as a lot of people share them, but the puzzling part was how his adept storytelling was so quickly transformed into such banal political droning. Given the freshness of his characters and storyline, I would have expected more thought provoking commentary on real world matters. Instead, the attempt comes off as someone trying to establish a legacy of opposition in hopes that the future will consider him astute.

Overall an enjoyable read and should Mr. Harding put forth another work, I'll be happy to give it a go as well, though I hope either his political insights (whatever their flavor) match his storytelling skills or he abandons attempts at working them in.

I read this while on vacation back in 2011. I was laughing out loud. Very witty, surprising, and enjoyable, with lots of details and well built characters and plot. Enjoy it!

I first read this book several years ago and the title was as I have titled my review; quite a lengthy one you will agree, so when I saw it with the shortened title I decided to purchase it to read again and to loan to my friends. It is a great read and quite 'different'; not sure what genre I would list it under. It has some quite serious issues but mostly is a very humerous read. I would recommend it highly

Things I did not like:

1) Grating, poorly created pidgin.

2) Treatment of women was very disappointing.

3) Supposedly American characters spoke like Brits. In a book with such a focus on language this was very disappointing.

I couldn't imagine being forced to finish this book. It was awful.

The attempt at conveying pidgin English in this novel falls pitifully short and was utltimately so irritating it made the book unreadable. I am unconvinced that the author made any significant effort at researching his subject matter which is key to turning out worthwhile literature. I'll be donating my copy to our local thrift store, with a warning in the cover that it's probably not worth the purchase price no matter how low they mark it.