Really surprised at the negative reviews

books:


	• The Emperor's Children (Vintage) Claire Messud Vintage, 2007 - 496 pages view larger image
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Wasn't that bad...

I didn't have trouble reading this book. In fact, I got through it a bit faster than others. The story was interesting enough...but maybe because I am just 30 and in a creative field, I related.

Mixed feeling about this one...

As a thirty year old who lived in Manhattan during my twenties (and still lives nearby), I know so many people who fit the profiles of the characters in the novel, so for me, their lifestyles, self-importance, and overprivileged aimlessness was nothing out of the ordinary and quite relatable (unfortunately). However, I could see how readers from other parts of the country may be unable to relate to the main characters and their experiences.

I loved the author's style of writing and found the book entertaining and interesting. I would compare it to "The Secret History" and "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" due to similarities in the characters' circumstances (wealthy, overprivilegd youth), yet would not give it as high a rating as either novel. I have a very hard time recommending this to a general audience, however, I would definitely recommend it to those living in NYC and/or in their late twenties/early thirties, for relatability reasons.

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Really surprised at the negative reviews

I finished this book in three days and didn't find it hard to get through at all. I actually did not even notice anything weird about the structure of the sentences or find that I needed to use a reference book to understand anything. I found it to be more of a light read that is an interesting and amusing satire and kept me reading to find out what would happen to each of the characters that precisely because of their self absorption and flaws seemed so real to me. The only chapters that moved rather slow were the ones devoted to Bootie. I felt as though the author wanted him to be the most likeable/relatable though least glamorous character and feel that the family had wronged him and I just could not get on his side. The ending made me dislike him even more. My other criticism of this book is that I wanted more to happen in it. I wanted Seeley to do something more, I wanted Bootie's piece to be published, I wanted Marina to find out about the affair, etc. In this matter the book was slightly disappointing though it was only because Messud did such a good job of building her characters and making them real that I wanted more.

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Enjoyed it.

OK - so I didn't know this book was highly acclaimed when I bought it. Didn't see any reviews prior to reading it. The cover caught my attention at the bookstore, the story seemed interesting so I picked it up and put it in the queue. I finished the book the other day so came to write my review. Everyone has their taste in reading and I guess mine differs from the many who thought this book hollow.

I thought the characters were very real. There are Murry Thwaites in New York who are prestigious but many wonder why. Marina had trouble finding her way in life. Being the beautiful daughter of an influential family she could take her time. And her best friends were of very different social classes which I found brought interest to the story. The extreme "Booty" you wanted to knock upside the head to get a clue. My one disappointment was Ludovic Seeley was not explored. (maybe to use as book two?)

It's purely a book of life. How relationships evolve and change. What drives people to examine what's important. Nothing extreme. (excluding the 9/11 connection - which I could have done without) All plausible scenarios for real-life characters

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

The Emperor?s Children is a richly drawn, brilliantly observed novel of fate and fortune?about the intersections in the lives of three friends, now on the cusp of their thirties, making their way--and not-- in New York City. In this tour de force, the celebrated author Claire Messud brings to life a city, a generation, and the way we live in this moment.

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