Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 7/8/2009 + 1178 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I was very mixed on this one. As usual, Boyle's writing was wonderful, descriptive, and puts you in every scene in the story. However, to me the plot seemed lacking. There didn't seem to be any momentum to the story. The same things seemed to happen over and over without change. I'll admit there were some fascinating aspects to the story of Stanley McCormick who was the mentally unbalanced heir to the McCormick reaper fortune. The story shifts between Stanley's inability to get along in society, his marriage to Katherine Dexter McCormick, their futile sexless relationship, and his time at Riven Rock in the care of several doctors and male nurses. Probably the most interesting character in the story was Stanley's longtime nurse Eddie O'Kane, who goes with him to California in search of ultimate wealth, but who has a weakness for alcohol and women. In the end, however, nothing seems to change as the story progresses: Stanley is insane and stays that way, Katherine tries to help and remains loyal, and Eddie never achieves his dreams and remains hooked on the bottle. I would still give this one a mild recommendation solely on the basis of Boyle's excellent prose.

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