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jenmkin's review against another edition
4.0
The drama with which Susan Cheever wrote this book is iconic, it felt like I was reading a gossip column about the transcendentalists--something I didn't know I needed until I had it
nicoleankenmann's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook: 06hr 55m
A fantastic, immersive series of overlapping biographies, American Bloomsbury explores one neighbourhood chock-full of explosive literary talent. Great read. I foresee myself revisiting this book and its people again within five years.
A fantastic, immersive series of overlapping biographies, American Bloomsbury explores one neighbourhood chock-full of explosive literary talent. Great read. I foresee myself revisiting this book and its people again within five years.
misajane79's review against another edition
2.0
If I was a teacher, this book would be covered in red ink. Weird narrative flow, inaccuracies and great awkwardness whenever she tried to insert herself into the story. So much potential, such a rich topic and ultimately, very disappointing. I never quite figured out what she was trying to do.
If you're craving more information about these folks, read Eden's Outcasts--a much longer book, but far superior.
If you're craving more information about these folks, read Eden's Outcasts--a much longer book, but far superior.
bronwynmb's review against another edition
4.0
I fully admit I’m not big into 19th century American literature. Of these people, I’ve read a little Hawthorne and Alcott. I am, however, interested in group bios and these communities of writers/intellectuals that pop up (which is discussed briefly at the beginning of this book) - so much so that I bought this twice at the used bookstore and so gave a copy to my mom.
This was really interesting. I liked the, fairly, chronological approach. I didn’t even mind that some things are mentioned multiple times because the focus is on a different person. I wish this had maybe a bit more depth, but overall I really enjoyed this. Maybe now I’ll finally get to some of these other authors/writings.
This was really interesting. I liked the, fairly, chronological approach. I didn’t even mind that some things are mentioned multiple times because the focus is on a different person. I wish this had maybe a bit more depth, but overall I really enjoyed this. Maybe now I’ll finally get to some of these other authors/writings.
jking236's review against another edition
4.0
The drama with which Susan Cheever wrote this book is iconic, it felt like I was reading a gossip column about the transcendentalists--something I didn't know I needed until I had it
martydah's review against another edition
1.0
Most of the criticisms I had for this book have already been mentioned in other posts. So I'll just add this - there are nonfiction books for written for a popular audience that are really good. This is not one of them. The prose is quite awkward in places, with frequent repetitions of words and phrases in the same sentence. I also didn't care for the author's interjecting herself into the text - that would have been okay, if she was writing more along the lines of a travel memoir like those of Bill Bryson. But she isn't and it doesn't work. A good share of the book is an uncomfortable mix of fact, conjecture and incorrect information. It's a good thing that this was a short book.