The Circle of Reason Audiobook

" I took a class with Amitav, but I had never read any of his work up to this point. The novel was both surprising and unsurprising. There were things that I expected from him based on his teaching style and the books that he chose for us to read and some of those expectations were met. His attention to detail was immaculate, though occasionally distracting. On the other hand, my favorite part of the book was a section that recounted the dealings of small character in a short story format. It fit perfectly into the context of the novel and served as a microcosm of the rest of the work. Unfortunately, it never seemed like the story had much focus. Even now I'm not entirely sure where it went. "

" Description of a boarder town hosting refugees (where story is set)--how very, very apt..."The vocation of the melancholy is not anger but mourning. When in need they charge by the hour and sell a bitter sort of consolation." "

" I think one star is too much for this book. I did not find the point. All the characters are mentally ill, even though the author tries to pass them as normal. I was hoping to at least learn something from the setting and situations. But the characters are so outrageously crazy that I cannot trust any of the situations or the background setting. Don't waste your time. "

" Disconnected, baroque, interesting plot structure but less than engaging characters. Liked less than his opium/China coast books. "

" I read the first half of this book and am totally enamored! I'm waiting until I have a bit of time to plow through the rest. "

" I loved In an Antique Land, so I had very high expectations for this novel. I found it enjoyable but not nearly as excellent as I expected. "

" Amitav Ghosh is one of the best authors ever born on Earth. "

" This first book written by this great author reminded me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' "One Hundred Years of Solitude." "

" read rushdie instead. "

" I abandoned this book which is rare for me. I just couldn't get into the story after several chapters. There was no "hook". "

" Brilliant novel by Amitav Ghosh, has many underlying themes. Themes you must explore and discover for your self. "

" It started off really well, but the ending seemed like a cop out. Still worth a read just for all the crazy characters from the eunuch businessman to the phrenologist school-teacher, and the crazy Bangladeshi weaver. "

" I almost finished this book but then lost interest inexplicably. I think it's because the story was not captivating enough, though the language was Ghosh. I think I'll stick to his newer stuff, when he learned how to tell a good story well. "

" I thought that this was an interesting read. But it was disjointed and as others have commented characters you have become invested in suddenly disappear. Worth reading though. "

" Wonderful portraits of the villages and people in this novel. "

" A cross-continental novel about Alu, the protagonist, reflecting the irony of all that's 'rational'. The characters weave in stories that form subplots vaguely based on 'historical' events, giving the novel a twist of magic realism. "

" A bit of a goofy tale. "

" Lengthy, convoluted, under-developed characters, apt ending. "

" Three stars because it's a first novel. A fabulous beginning in Bengal and then loses it's way as the characters sail out of India. "

" Liked: A sprawling story of delicious detail with handfuls of characters and their own side stories.. Disliked: The writing finds and loses its pace a couple times. The characters remained remote and somewhat impenetrable. "

" one of the initial buks ok mr.ghosh...it was ok...except for some brilliant flashes it was pretty much ordinary... "

" I abandoned this book which is rare for me. I just couldn't get into the story after several chapters. There was no "hook". "

" Interesting read...as if I am watching a movie...feeling the touch of the world projected by the author. the language carries true bengali flavour "

" This first book written by this great author reminded me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' "One Hundred Years of Solitude." "

" A bit of a goofy tale. "

" one of the initial buks ok mr.ghosh...it was ok...except for some brilliant flashes it was pretty much ordinary... "

" I loved In an Antique Land, so I had very high expectations for this novel. I found it enjoyable but not nearly as excellent as I expected. "

" It started off really well, but the ending seemed like a cop out. Still worth a read just for all the crazy characters from the eunuch businessman to the phrenologist school-teacher, and the crazy Bangladeshi weaver. "

" I almost finished this book but then lost interest inexplicably. I think it's because the story was not captivating enough, though the language was Ghosh. I think I'll stick to his newer stuff, when he learned how to tell a good story well. "

" Amitav Ghosh is one of the best authors ever born on Earth. "

" Description of a boarder town hosting refugees (where story is set)--how very, very apt..."The vocation of the melancholy is not anger but mourning. When in need they charge by the hour and sell a bitter sort of consolation." "