How can I like this book so much?
345142
The history is based on an outdated understanding of the European witch hunts and on the now-discredited theories of Margaret Murray. It's an  excellent picture of the Wiccan sacred history myth, but that myth is about  as factual as Genesis 1. (For scholarly perspectives, try Ronald Hutton or  Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick.)
A number of the initiatory rites  Buckland describes involve some very risky practices, and the  sensory-deprivation techniques he presents can be incredibly dangerous in  inexperienced hands. I'm not talking spiritual danger here, either -- I'm  talking broken necks.
There are a few references to the ingestion or  topical application of herbs; medical herbalists I know have discouraged me  from following Buckland's instructions on the grounds that they're  potentially dangerous.
Having warned my friends of all the above  concerns, I then press my tattered copy into their hands. I don't know why  I do that -- perhaps because this is the book from which many of those who  came to the Craft fifteen years ago learned what we were doing.
Perhaps  because the quizzes, though hokey, reinforce the notion that the Wiccan  faith requires knowledge and study. Perhaps because Buckland's seminal role  in the Pagan movement in America makes it important to know what he  believed and taught, even when those beliefs and teachings seem  outmoded.
Maybe it's just the amusement value of the dreadfully earnest  instructions for making an antlered helmet out of a salad bowl.
4540198
Whenever anyone asks what my favorite book is, without hesitation I immediately tell them that it's A Confederacy of Dunces.  Part of the reason is that it's one of the few books that I can pick up and read again and enjoy almost as much as the first time.  The other part is that it's simply the most engaging and entertaining book that I've ever read.  Can't recommend it highly enough.
3615209
Wow. I love this book. I've read it so many times the cover is starting to fall off. It's epic, it's fantastic, it's emotive, it's heart-wrenching, it's human, it's gory, it's everything you'd want in a book. Hell, it's so good, I wrote my A-Level music film music composition for it!!! Buy it, read it, read it again, then buy the seventh scroll and warlock and read them and then read the whole lot again! And again! OK, I need help now....
1123683
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.  I bought it as a remainder for next to nothing and was pre-reading it to see when my niece would be old enough for it -- if it were good enough to give her, that is.  As it turns out, I find myself jealous of her getting to be old enough to read it, because I think she's going to dive in and only surface for meals.

One reason I liked this book so much, I think, is because the theory of quantum alternate universes is an idea that I find very persuasive and comforting.  As a result, this novel gives me more food for thought to chew over while it also mixes in the "supernatural" aspects of the family tree, the oddly old and young Aldous, and so on.  As an adult who was once a child who experienced a painful loss of a loved one, I found the treatment of grief to be very affecting as well.

I was disappointed to find that the second Withern Rise book is not yet out in paperback.  My niece has probably 4 years until she's old enough to start the trilogy, and I hope I'll have finished all three before then.  ;-)

The one argument I have with the book is the rather spare style in which it's written.  It feels to me as if some coloring and fleshing out is missing, although from reading the author's comments in the essays at the end of the volume, I can see that's a deliberate choice of his.  This difference in taste is far from sufficient to turn me off the book, however.
4004993
I had just read a similar storyline and thought to myself, "Well I have a feeling this is a book I won't finish. How will this one be able to keep my attention?". The answer: by creating credible characters who you like and who you care for and cheer for. By writing that flows with a rhythm that is realistic. By leaving you so impressed you actually sign up for the author's website and are happy she has more books you get the pleasure to read.
1682834
I've only read this book, one of my favorites, twice. I'm 25. That number will rise considerably. Read, re-read, repeat.
724770
The style of the writing and the way the characters were brought to life. I have a wide range of likes in the type and style of books to read. It all depends on my mood  and how I am feeling at the time when choosing what to read.
4376903
This is a book for those who love reading and those who love books; the thrill of hunting down obscure volumes, and the mystery of putting life to long-lost authors. It's a book about love, jealousy, deception, revenge, forgiveness, the lies we tell ourselves, growing up, and trying to escape one's past. It's filled with grotesque, yet perfectly believable characters, who you can't help but despise for their human frailty and foolishness even as you sympathise with their weaknesses. The story itself is filled with twists and turns, slowly unfolding like a crushed origami crane, and keeping you turning the pages until the bath water goes cold or you can't stay awake any longer.

I loved the unusual setting. Spain in the early 20th century was racked by the Civil War, and then managed to sit out the Second World War; as a result, it doesn't feel like most stories set in the period 1930-1950. It feels otherworldly, but at the same time real, and it's left me wanting to revisit Barcelona to see the places mentioned all through the book; not just the big Gaudi tourist attractions, but the small streets, the cafes, and even the bookshops. It's like wanting to wander round Oxford after reading Philip Pullman, or taking a road trip across America after reading Gaiman's American Gods.

As other critics have noted, I was reminded throughout of Umberto Eco, Jorge Luis Borges, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I'd also add Salman Rushdie, another personal favourite of mine. I regard them as four of the greatest writers of the 20th century, and to my mind, Zafon belongs up there with them. I'll admit that I've only read them mostly in translation (I managed a bit of Borges and some Marquez in my Spanish courses when I was 16-17, and haven't even tried learning Italian to tackle Eco), and it's the same with Shadow, but the translation by Lucia Graves, daughter of the great Robert Graves, is absolutely masterful. It's poetic, and it has the same lilting flow I expect from Spanish writing.

This is one of those books that demonstrates why I don't give many 5-star ratings. When I read a book like this, I want it to stand out head and shoulders above those books that are merely good, or even very good. This is, without a doubt, one of the best books I've read in recent years.

If you're a fan of the sort of literary writers I mentioned above, then I can't recommend this book highly enough.
2961546
Too many reviews already, but had to add my 5 stars. Best book EVER, love to re-read it every few years, but because I loved it so much the first time around, I already memorized almost every scene, so it's never as good as the first reading, but I still HAVE to re-read it, I just can't help myself. It's too great for words!
2152756
This book is so embracing, so real, so welcoming, so literary, that I cannot recommend it enough. Nor am I happy I finished it. I will re read it probably. It deserves a second reading, it's that good.
2688366
Ugh.  This is one of THOSE books.  A book that I like so much that I'm having difficulty reviewing it.  I've already begun and erased over half a dozen different attempts.  And the really silly thing is that I almost didn't chose this book.  In general I tend to go with fantasy/scifi/adventure (something Travis and I have in common) so a book about the a small town people-problems doesn't exactly have a large map to my general preferences.  I chose it though because my Vine reading buddies were so enthusiastic about the characters and the story, and for their hearty recommendation, I owe them.

What I LOVE about this book is the storytelling and the characters.  The storytelling is straightforward and yet complex.  Jeff Zentner actually made me pause several times to really think about life and choices.  The last person to make me do that was Cormac McCarthy.  (Cormac's stories though are not straightforward.)  Zentner also reminded me that there are teens out there, right now, that are like Travis, Dill, Lydia, and the rest of their schoolmates.  None of his characters, you see, are 'special snowflakes'.  They are almost unremarkable except for their youthful spirit.

GIVE THIS BOOK A CHANCE.  It's actually, in my mind, better suited for an adult audience.  I think that's because we're going to feel and understand the depth of their imprisonment in that small town mindset than younger folks.

Brilliant Writing.  Brilliant, Funny Characters.  Actually thought provoking.
4154488
I read a lot. A whole lot. A slow year of reading for me is about eighty books. And I'm really good about picking out the books I'll like. So, I read a whole lot of books that I really enjoy.

There are different kinds and levels of enjoyment though. I've read a lot of fantasy and swashbuckling adventure sorts of books, and I'm always amused by the brief escape they offer. They're like the old college buddies who you don't talk to much, but when they're in town, you have a good weekend. Then, you go back to your normal life a little more capable of handling it.

I read quite a few literary novels, too, and I usually end up feeling appreciation toward them. They taught me something, and I'm grateful for it, even though I'll never read any of them again if I can help it. It's sort of like those old friends from your hometown, I guess, who you love but also avoid when you go back home to visit.

Then there are those books that have provided me with a little of everything--the adventure and the laughs and the intellectual stimulation that have sustained me this far. Those, of course, are like the friends and family that are always there. I enjoy seeing these books on the shelves around me the moment I wake up or walk through my apartment door.

There's some other level though, too, I've noticed, which is more rare to find. Even having read as many books as I've read, I can only think of a handful of books that have provided such an experience. These books, I think, have offered me every gift those other books have and something a little more. They've touched my imagination in such a way so as to spark some senses of meaning and of communion with the rest of the world. Discovering "cosmos within chaos," I think Madeleine L'Engle once called this feeling. I'm not sure if that's exactly the right way to describe it. What I do know is that having finished such a book, I feel the profound urge (this sounds stupid) to hug people. And that is precisely what I feel, having finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I guess this should be a warning to J.K. Rowling. Having finished the final Harry Potter book, I'm overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude. If, by chance, I were to ever run into Mrs. Rowling, I would have difficulty fighting the urge to offer her a Hagrid-sized hug.
875578
This is one of my very favorite books.  I read it at least once a year, and as each year passes I see each character more clearly, I find one more little detail about a moment.  This is not instant gratification, you must be willing to open up and just let the book flow into your consciousness.  If you are willing, you will be richly, richly rewarded.
817191
When I read a book this wonderful, I always wish I had more of a way with words, so I could do the book justice. I desperately want to convey the essence of this book to you so that you can share the love and awe I feel for it. Im not someone who always loves flawed characters. I sometimes even find them annoying. But in this book, when I say the characters are flawed, what I mean is that they are created with flaws and strengths and likes and dislikes and feelings that are so believable and so self-consistent that it seems they could step off the page. I thought the author also did an incredible job showing that gay couples are just like any other couple without diminishing the extra pressures put on their relationship by the prejudices some people have towards gay couples.

At first, I wasn't sure I liked Daniel very much, but as we get into the story and share his perspective, my heart ached for both halves of this struggling couple. The author flowed seamlessly between their perspectives, as well as the perspective of their adopted daughter. Throughout the book, the author connects whats happening to Matt and Daniel back to greater issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and gay rights. She made me do a lot of thinking about these issues but I never felt that she was moralizing at me. Instead she just gave these issues a human face. I think there are parts of this book which could make many people uncomfortable, including some (necessary) description of the characters sex lives and perhaps the characters views on Israel. I think thats a good thing though, making this a book which will push peoples boundaries. Its also moving and beautiful and so, so wonderful. Even if you're nervous about the topic, perhaps especially if you're nervous about the topic, I highly encourage you to give All I Love And Know a chance.
958379
I can't say enough about how great this book is. Please do yourself a favor and give it a read,
3866868
I don't think I've enjoyed a fiction book this much in probably five years, and I read a lot. The opening line is just absolutely killer, and the book just kept drawing me in from there. The story itself is terrific, but what is possibly even more enjoyable in this age of homogenous prose is the author's stylistic proficiency and flare. Dude can just straight-up write. Every single character is recognizable and feels "real," which goes a long way in making the fantastical elements of the story seem natural and believable.

I got this from the library and am going to buy a copy. I have spent so much money on books that I decided to only buy them if I am thoroughly impressed from reading at the library. From the first chapter of this book, I thought, "I'm buying this thing." I'm going to read it again, both as a writer to learn from Belcher, and then again as a reader, just to flat out enjoy it.

I've been ranting about this book to all my reader-friends. I absolutely love it.
2830601
I fail to comprehend why this book has become such a 'classic'. I've never done so much skimming and speed-reading in my life. Am I missing something?