The Little Book

I loved this book

This book was an incredible journey. There were so many twists and turns you never knew what was coming. The backstory of the author is great as well. I can't wait until his next book is published.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A quircky, fun little story.

I enjoyed this book because it contained elements of history, an interesting plot and some great characters. Probably not for everyone due to the fantastic premise of time travel but a great book club choice as it would prompt any number of discussions. I would reccomend it to anyone who enjoyed The Life of Pi.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Different book on different levels

For a historical fiction fan this is a good book. Its placement in late 19th Century Vienna with descriptions of life and morals is interesting and escapist. For that it should get five stars. The time travel aspect supports that rating. The plot is at times hard to pin down, straining comprehension, at times beyond the limits of good fiction, and merits only three to four stars. The characters were, for the most part, stereotyped, like an Austrian melodrama, and rate only a three rating at best. Overall the book was fun, but at times incredulous. It is not for the analytical, more for the escapist. What started out for me as compelling became at times tenuous. The whole seemed to be better than the sum of its parts, but not to the degree to make this a great work. A decent read, yes, a top notch one, not for me.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A 30 year masterpiece!

Do you ever see a book and just know that you are going to enjoy it? Well The Little Book by Selden Edwards was like that for me. I picked up the book as the cover looked intriguing to me (Yes! I was judging a book by its cover!). I knew I was probably in good hands when the two author endorsements were from Richard Ford and Pat Conroy. Both gentlemen are among my all time favorite writers. After quickly reading the inside of the dust jacket, I was sold. I was not to be disappointed.

The book is set during the turn of the 19th century in Vienna. Mr. Edwards weaves in some amazing cameos of people who play a role in the story (Sigmund Freud is a pivotal figure). Whilst I don't want to give the plot away, be ready to explore several time periods from 1897 to 1988. There are some shocking moments in the book that make sense, will still surprise you. The tome wraps up with a flourish that will leave you smiling.

If you have an interest in 19th century Europe, prep school, and larger than life heroes, this is the book for you. Although written over a period of 30 years, the prose and dialogue are seamless. Cheers to Selden Smith for a book well-done!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Just The Best Little Book!

This book is fascinating. It has an air of mystery and absolutely charming. It is just The Best Little Book! I highly recommend it. A very relaxing read. I have just finished this book and could not put it down. My only hope is that it does not take Selden Edwards thirty years to bring back Wheeler Burden. A wonderful book. Outstanding. Reminds me of A Winter's Tale.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A gripping story

This book brought me such pleasure with its finely drawn characters and evocation of times and places past. There were twists and turns to keep you reading. But more than that there was joy and romance and history brought together beautifully. Time travel is a hard subject to do well, but Edwards has done magnificently. This book speaks to your heart. It is the author's lifelong project and he has given us a book to cherish for a lifetime. I loved Jack Finney's Time and Again and From Time To Time and now I have found something to compare. Bravo!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyable fantasy

This time travel was a little easier to follow than some. Enjoyed the idea that the characters cross in different time frames. Was a little let down with the ending, but overall and absorbing story.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Five Star Read...Ah, the brain that came up with this story!

This story of one family's ability to time travel is a great read! The men of the family find themselves crossing paths with other family members in some random pattern of mixing up the past with the present...and the future! Two years after having read Mr. Edwards' wonderful story I still think about it, that being the reason I bought the book...so that I can loan it to friends whom I can't wait to dicuss it with! Highly Recommended!!

Loved this book

Great fun to read. Reccimended it to others and they all enjoyed it too.

Confusing and boring

I forced myself to finish this book, thinking that it MUST get better, but it never did. When it wasn't confusing, it was boring. Too many things going on that either didn't make sense or had no relation to the main storyline and characters.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A great, complex read.

Really a unique read -- fantasy, history, romance, suspense. I strongly recommend this book.

An Interesting Story

Although an interesting story with unexpected twists and turns, I was not overly impressed with the style of writing. A bit contrived.

Unique and Entertaining

The characters and plot kept me reading. I was mostly surprised with all the twists and turns. Now I am dying to see Vienna. If you want to read something interesting, this is the book for you.

DO NOT BE FOOLED

Well, maybe this novel needed another 30 yrs in the cooker to make it bearable because it is absolute pain.

0 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful Story

Great characters, wonderful time piece and intriguing story. Also reminded me of Time and Again - a classic I love. This is a must read for people who love reading great books!

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