I listened to this novel, which was read by a cast of characters. For those who chose not to finish the novel, in my opinion, “you lose.” I agree that the first narrative of three in the book could be dry and dense. A tycoon who is a loner in a marvelous mansion in New York City meets and marries the “un-marriageable” daughter of a couple who have travelled the world with this daughter. She is far too well-read and brilliant for most men of her time. Each of them thread throughout this book, sometimes with different names. But it is at the same time the least linear and most linear book you will ever read. By now, it is no spoiler to mention that the story is set out in four narratives about one overarching story about a couple. It is certainly a commentary on wealth, class, power and intelligence. It also makes clear that we cannot control everything in our lives. It is a commentary on how people perceive the world and how they portray themselves to the world is always complex. You can form all the opinions you like: You are wrong. It is historical fiction, generally running from the 2920s on, but with lots that goes back to the gilded age.
I completely get why this one the Pulitzer! The construction of this novel is a first in terms of the the number of perspectives and they way they are shown to us one at a time. Each version is tainted by the personality and ego of the writer and their subjects. It is largely indescribable except by telling it in great detail. So, I just say, if you like original novels, stories about this period and about wealth and relationships and loss of self and developing one’s self. I dunno. It’s a really good book.
They Called me Bookworm 