Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Satisfying and exciting!, November 8, 2005
It's World War II and Hitler's army is marching across Europe. The United States is at war, and they're using everything in their arsenal, including magic. Jared Cleaves wants to do his part, but a childhood accident keeps him from the front lines.
Instead he is put to work at Henry Ford's (yes THAT Henry Ford) plant in Detroit. He is one of a select few who spend their days shifting through clay, clay that will be used to make golems who will be sent over to fight on the front lines. What Jared doesn't know is that he's being watched by secret powers, and soon, he is reluctantly drawn into spying for different parties that are all vying for an edge that will bring the war to a close.
Alexander C. Irvine spins a masterful tale that is one part history lesson and another part fantasy. His is a parallel world where golems are raised from clay, Indian shamans can transform into ravens, and a mysterious dwarf, whose appearance portends destruction for the city of Detroit and maybe the world, makes an appearance.
Armchair Interviews says: The Narrows takes a bit of getting use to. It's not a fast read since the main action is broken up with poetic interludes. At times these breaks in the action can be distracting when they lean towards the surreal, but in Irvine's hands it all comes together in a satisfying and exciting ending.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing, November 30, 2005
It takes me weeks often several months to find a book that is just right, one that has the right combination of skilled writing and atmosphere. Irvines' "The Narrows" is such a book. The poetic asides, characterization and the elements of the supernatural which are blended so skillfully are just pitch perfect. I read the blurb, and decided against purchasing it from Amazon, but then I had an opportunity to actually begin reading it in my local bookstore and decided that I had to purchase it. The plot is an odd one, Golems, Nazis and Henry Ford but this book is wonderful and a great addition to my collection of "magic realism".
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A real page-turner with a fresh hook, March 28, 2006
I'm not much of a war story reader, and I haven't read many spy thrillers, but this book is sort of a mix of both of these things with a heavy dose of cynical fantasy thrown in, and I really loved it.
I think you can truly judge the merit of a book by the opinions of the crossover readers who might not usually pick up such a book. I couldn't stop turning the pages, as there was an intriguing revelation every few pages or so. The dialogue was very natural and the description was minimalist but well done. The character development also was pretty good, but the book really shines on its action.
I found the golems to be very interesting characters and was fascinated by their actions throughout the story.
If Irvine was able to get me reading about one aspect of life in America during World War II, he's a brilliant writer indeed, because I usually avoid that sort of thing. I'll definitely be looking for more of Irvine's writings.
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