An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England: A Novel Audiobook

" I was excited when I saw this on the shelf at my small neighborhood library, excited by its quirkiness when I first started reading and then about half way through I....argh...started to skim a bit (part of that might have been my needing to consume Theraflu while reading). Sam became irritating...I just wanted him to get on with it already. Too many characters being stereotypic and weird for the sake of weird characters...was that the point? What am I missing? Am I unclever? And then the ending...wow didn't see any of that which I don't want to spoil coming. Maybe 2 stars. "

" Could not finish this book. It was bleak. And sad. Rather like "Little Miss Sunshine," which I also heard was supposed to be funny. "

" It's certainly funny, but more in a "Oh, that was funny" way. Many other reviewers found the protagonist unlikeable, but I found him sympathetic. His actions and choices are frustrating, but I think they're so frustrating because we want him to succeed. Ultimately, the ending left me unsatisfied and at a bit of a loss. "

" A breezy read full of observations about the human condition that seem almost wise had they been made by a child, but since the story is told from the viewpont of an adult they come off mostly as whimsical, quirky and border line idiotic, terms that aptly describe just about every character in this novel as well as its cutely odd plot. If you like a heavy dose of absurdity mixed into your mysteries, and plenty of literary references tossed in for good measue, this is the book for you. If I was the type, this would probably qualify as a single sitting read. Mild curiosity and amusement along with a dash of irritation at the narrator's inability to solve relatively simple problems in blatantly simple ways (because he is by definition a bumbler, and the author insists he must live up to this description no matter what) propels the reader forward to an ending that is not intended to take anyone by surprise, but manages to be somewhat poignant if not quite profound. "

" Not what I expected. Expected it to be more of comedy and satire, but there was a resigned tone in the narration from the very beginning, which detracted from both of those features. "

" This book wins the prize for the most frustrating protagonist in the history of literature. It's hard not to dock the author for this. I think the writing is generally crisp and insightful, although he sometimes tries too hard. But, to be honest, the book really bummed me out. So 3* it is. "

" A quirky meditation on the power of books and writing-- for good or ill--from the perspective of a most unreliable narrator! Part of our Big Read celebration of Emily Dickinson. "

" I gave up on this one. The narrator was so completely out of touch with his emotions that it was getting in the way of the narrative. I couldn't care about him, and his passivity stopped me from even caring about the resolution to the story. "

" I'm not really sure what to make of this book. I'd like to read it in a book club becasue I feel like I'm missing the point as well as symbology. "

" I picked this book up when I saw it mentioned in "Blueprint" magazine. It's a really witty book and well written, but I'm not so sure I like the ending. It's kind of a dark comedy. "

" Very cleverly written, but I didn't like any of the characters, and it was very frustrating to read, as it was full of unfortunate people making bad decisions making their lives worse. "

" A fantastic book written in first person. Funny, enchanting and sad (at times). "

" i could not get through this book, even when i was stuck on a plane with nothing else to read. not entertaining. drivel. "

" A really good read, but the main character is so frustrating!!! I just want to shake him! "

" It is a good book by a good writer but it is tonally annoying. This was not a narrator a reader could long enjoy. "

" Didn't realize it was so satirical; hard to read more than a chapter at a time, but I have laughed out loud once or twice so it evens out. Wry tone, great protagonist. "

" quirky, sometimes funny and sometimes sad "

" Its beem a few weeks since I finished this. I remember I liked it. It was a pleasant read. Some laughs, some food for thought. But I don't remember much more. I guess that's my statement about the book. "

" An odd book with a mildly interesting story. "

" Didn't quite live up to my expectations. It was an okay read but glad it was in the bargain bin. "

" A much better listen than read. Amazing reader. Did a better job than my imagination did. When I think of the book, I think of the voice. "

" It took me a while to warm up (so to speak) the narrator's voice, but once I understood his total unreliability, I began to enjoy it. The satire is sharp, and the passage on the memoir section in a big box bookstore is hilarious. "

" Had much higher hopes, based on the blurbs and my local book store's recommendation. Repetitive writing style, somewhat predictable plot, no redeeming characters. Oh well. "

" this started off on a promising note - i even recommended it to a book club. but somehow it fell apart about half-way through the book. i kept thinking it was going to turn around, but no such luck. "

" Some readers loved this book. Others loathed it. Just give the book a chance, okay? "

" Not sure I liked this book, I got really annoyed with the protagonist. Had to skim read it to the end, which ended predictably. "

" Tiresome. Gave up after page 43 or something. "

" Bought it because I liked the cover. Only part of the book I enjoyed. "

" Kind of boring, put it down for a couple of weeks and picked it back up when I ran out of other things to read. No likable characters, and a ridiculous occurrence of events. "

" I did not finish this book but abandoned it. After about a third (an honest try, I'd say), I found it too insipid to continue. "

" I loved the narrarator's voice. I loved the idea. It's just that the actual book wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. I'll be willing to try something else written by this author, but that will be it if he lets me down again. Oh, and I hated the ending. "