Thoughtful and intelligent, 25 Jul 2002
I thought the story was a thoughtful and unusually intelligent examination of the thoughts and development of a teenager/ young man - some of the discussion of the consciousness of fictional characters about the context they operate in was fascinating. I love Mosley's writing style, the uncertain development of conversations, thought processes, the uncertainty of the characters about the suitable way to react to events. The discussion of technology was one of the parts I enjoyed most - the very impossibility of understanding the effect, the importance, of the internet.
I'm only giving this 4 rather than 5 because it doesn't quite live up to _Hopeful Monsters_ but what does?

Old novelists and the new economy - a mixed result, 20 Jun 2001
I feel ambivalent towards this book. On the one hand it raises interesting philosophical questions about fate and the power of humans which was deeply rewarding. On the other hand the writing style is somewhat stilted and the author, rather artificially, has attempted to make his book 'up to date' by making reference to the Internet, millenium bugs and quantum physics, but never seeming comfortable in this area.

I respectfully suggest the author sticks to areas he knows best (the beautiful description of the underground tree) and steers clear of areas he doesn't understand. It seems that it's not just companies and MBA graduates that went rushing into the 'new economy' with blindfolds on.

Thoughtful and intelligent, 25 Jul 2002
I thought the story was a thoughtful and unusually intelligent examination of the thoughts and development of a teenager/ young man - some of the discussion of the consciousness of fictional characters about the context they operate in was fascinating. I love Mosley's writing style, the uncertain development of conversations, thought processes, the uncertainty of the characters about the suitable way to react to events. The discussion of technology was one of the parts I enjoyed most - the very impossibility of understanding the effect, the importance, of the internet.
I'm only giving this 4 rather than 5 because it doesn't quite live up to _Hopeful Monsters_ but what does?

Old novelists and the new economy - a mixed result, 20 Jun 2001
I feel ambivalent towards this book. On the one hand it raises interesting philosophical questions about fate and the power of humans which was deeply rewarding. On the other hand the writing style is somewhat stilted and the author, rather artificially, has attempted to make his book 'up to date' by making reference to the Internet, millenium bugs and quantum physics, but never seeming comfortable in this area.

I respectfully suggest the author sticks to areas he knows best (the beautiful description of the underground tree) and steers clear of areas he doesn't understand. It seems that it's not just companies and MBA graduates that went rushing into the 'new economy' with blindfolds on.

What is God?, 02 Mar 2003
This book by Nicholas Mosley follows a great number if initially unrelated people in their search for a truth in their life and a sense in the world they live in. Although the people are in my view insufficiently described outside of their thoughts own life and God, these thoughts make it worth it to read the book. There are also innumerable references to different beliefs and their relative merits, so, as fiction it's not a must, but for enlightenment it is.