Comments on: Review: Tales of the Madman Underground

By: Liz B

Liz B — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:47:05 +0000

rockinlibrarian & dogear: I loved Going Bovine. Partly because when I got to the end, went to reread it, and so many things that happened in the rest of the book were told in the first few chapters. A bit like THE USUAL SUSPECTS and the bulletin board. And of course, being on the committee that gave the Printz to Jellicoe Road, I adore Jellicoe Road!

Lara, thank you. I appreciate that.

DogEar, I didn’t read White Darkness (and still haven’t) in part because I wanted my Printz reading not to be influenced by the previous years. Also, I deliberately read less literary stuff leading up to my Printz year because I know my reading would be heavy. Maybe this year, to balance the nonfiction I’ll be reading.

I cannot imagine there ever being one book that eveyone likes.

By: DogEar

DogEar — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:09:44 +0000

rockinlibrarian, yes! Bovine was just painful for me, as was White Darkness. I didn’t get through either. But my coworker, whose opinion I respect greatly, picked up Madman Underground last week and couldn’t get into it at all. If I hadn’t already read it, I wouldn’t have picked it up on her review. I think it’s just best to say, there’s something for everyone but unlikely that everything will be for everyone.

By: Tweets that mention Review: Tales of the Madman Underground « A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy -- Topsy.com

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:34:12 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Liz Burns, Karl G. Siewert. Karl G. Siewert said: RT @LizB: Review: Tales of the Madman Underground: Tales of the Madman Underground (An Historical Romance 1973) by John Barn… http://bit.ly/dtRZz1 [...]

By: Lara Z

Lara Z — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:16:05 +0000

Your reviews always make me want to read the books you’re reviewing …

By: rockinlibrarian

rockinlibrarian — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 01:55:32 +0000

Hah hah, DogEar, that is why awards are so subjective– I thought Going Bovine was one of the BEST books I’d EVER read, EVER. But on the other hand, the year before I wasn’t all that impressed with Jellicoe Road, but adored the Honor Books. Some years ya get it, some years ya don’t.

By: Liz B

Liz B — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:52:42 +0000

Doret, thanks for the link, I’ll check it out!

DogEar, hey we have a match?! Yay!

By: DogEar

DogEar — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:47:40 +0000

Also love love love Tales of a Madman Underground. I’m hoping for more YA from Mr. Barnes but I’m going to try his latest adult book after the Newbery/Printz season.

Madman, while a lot to bit into at first, really transported me to another time, another life. It’s a long book that covers only six days in Kyle’s life and I was left wanting to read about the next day and the next day.

I’m a little bummed that Going Bovine won the Printz. I’m a much bigger fan of The Monstrumologist and Madman than Bray’s book (which I really didn’t enjoy much and thought was just mediocre in terms of execution and writing).

By: Doret

Doret — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:44:58 +0000

I loved Tales from the Madman Underground. From the characters to the writing, it was spot on good.

If you get a chance check out Edi’s recent Here’s to the Madmen post
http://campbele.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/heres-to-the-madmen/#comments