Customer Reviews

The Spring

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

 

 

I'm a fan of Clifford Irving's work, so bear that in mind. This is not his best book but it's good enough to be better than almost anything on the best-seller list today. It's an imaginative and action-filled story of a "fountain of youth" in modern Colorado near the mountain resort of Aspen. The characters are solid and real. The atmosphere, including a great scene of an avalanche, is excellent. I found its philosophical underpinnings worthy of consideration. The writing is crisp and elegant, and I finished it in three sessions. You can't go wrong with this Irving.

Some people view this as Clifford Irving's least successful novel. That said, he is such a fine writer that "The Spring" is still considerably superior to most other contemporary novels and/or thrillers. It's a remarkable story about a community in Colorado that has discovered -- and successfully hides, until the story starts -- the Fountain of Youth. Springville is in the vicity of Aspen, but don't hunt for it; it's a fantasy by this wonderfully imaginative author.

I won't spoil the tale by telling you more. It's atmospheric, tense, and, usual, Irving paints compelling and sympathetic characters. And, as usual, he writes crisp and yet evocative prose. The snow scenes, particularly the avalanche, are remarkable. Sol Stein, in "Stein on Writing," holds this author up as a master of point of view -- and he's right.

I like Clifford Irving and enjoy all his books. I always look forward to his next work. Recommend readers get ahold of his previous works. They are good

The basic idea for the plot is not bad, but the execution was terrible. This book should have been a short story at best, no more than fifty pages. It was not a long book, but it still felt like a really long walk where your feet are tired and just want it to be over (yes, I have trouble giving up books which I've already read half way through).

Irving is a talented writer, and this will not be the last book I read by him, but it seemed that he was not inspired to write this at all. This is the kind of writing which feels forced, like having to finish a high school English paper. The dialogue is unnatural, the pace is very slow, the ending is not surprising...it basically fails in every category. The reason I give it three stars instead of two is because I did enjoy being transported to the Colorado Rockies where it takes place. I would only recommend this book to people who feel compelled to read every book by Irving, or people that live in the Aspen area.

I will conclude by saying that this does not cloud my view of Irving as a great author, but I do believe most people would find this book to be disappointing, so I would recommend Trial or The Hoax, also by the author.

That Clifford Irving's writing has become slack of belly with his last few books is clearly evident in this sorry novel. Irving certainly proved himself better as a hoaxer. And that a writer who had such promise has dropped to this sloppy level of writing is a shame. A trite book.

Clifford Irving can write better. This was an opportunity for a well-told story; instead it is the work of an amateur. Not up tp Irving's usual standard.

A chance for a really interesting story becomes, in Irving's hands, a watery, weary and hackneyed piece of writing. Here was an opportunity to delve into an interesting subject, instead Irving throws characters and plot into a jumble of ultimately boring and disappointing reading.