Customer Reviews

Sliver

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

 

 

"Sliver" is definitely not up to "Rosemary's Baby" but it's one of Levin's better products, and for those readers who felt it lacked believability, what would they say about "Rosemary's Baby" or "The Stepford Wives"? It's not supposed to be read with a straight face; it's fun, and on that count, it measures up. What made the book especially enjoyable for this reader was that I know the Carnegie Hill neighborhood very well, and it was a lot of fun identifying all the places Levin mentioned in the book -- real places, in fact. (The Corner Bookstore is one of my favorite book shops in all of New York.) The story of the sophisticated, jaded older woman who falls in love with a younger man has been done to death, but Levin makes this one refreshing by giving the heroine sense enough not to take this too seriously; she knows sooner or later it's bound to end so she just enjoys what she has while she has it. The book's main theme of voyeurism is well presented; we share the heroine's mixture of fascination and revulsion, and realize how all too easy it is to get sucked into the thrill of snooping and being privy to all the neighbors' secrets. And while the ending may be as believable as a two-headed giraffe, the whole book is slightly off-center so we shrug and enjoy the fun. If you're looking for something heavy or profound, go read "War and Peace" or an equally weighty tome; "Sliver" is a good book to spend a rainy day with.

I love this book - easy to read, engrossing, interesting characters,... I definitely recommend it.

Mr. Levin must have been writing this fast and furiously to meet a deadline. It's hard to believe that the author of such really great books could have penned this piece of trash. The characters are like life-sized cardboard cutouts. The plot was lacking in plausibility, passion or suspense and the conclusion was ridiculous. Did you ever try hanging from a curtain hook, Mr. Levin? A good sized cat hanging on the drape would have pulled the hook out and bye, bye kitty!

I haven't read anything else by this author, but it looks as if his every previous novel has been made into a movie. He's obviously a major talent -- too bad this book doesn't show it. The characters are unendearing, and the ending is way beyond silly. On the other hand, it's a short novel that won't leave your brain in a sling. Go ahead and pick it up next time you see it at a yard sale, just in case need something to read during your next long flight.