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There are currently 18 member reviews
for The Life of the World to Come
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Susan S. (Lafayette, CA)
A great premise
This author can really write, in that the book is full of wonderful individual sentences. I liked the premise, I loved the beginning, and I was delighted by the ending. I am giving this four stars rather than five, though, because for me it bogged down a little bit in the middle.
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Paula W. (East Wenatchee, WA)
The Life of the World to Come
Dan Cluchey is an excellent writer. This is his first novel. His many characters are a bit weird. I enjoyed how they interacted with one another. Rather then reading a novel it was like listening to conversations between friends, however odd friends. At one point in his novel he mentions Woody Allen and I immediately thought...yes these characters could be right out of a Woody Allen movie. Leo is the main character. When he graduates from law school his first job is to defend criminals on death row. This is s novel about Leo's relationships and struggles. It is a great read.
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Lynn W
A different read
Leo is the main character and the narrator of his story. This is a love story, a tale of friendships and thought provoking parts on capital punishment and religion. Seems like a lot but the story flows so well and even tells a realistic story. An enjoyable read.
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Janet W. (Davis, CA)
Maybe needs a second chance
This story spent so much time on the main character's angst, phobias, love-lost, that by the time it got to the second part of story...the part that was worth reading...I had almost given up. Leo is pathetic. He is not interesting enough to care about. He is all that is wrong with his generation. He spends most of his time feeling sorry for himself. Until he meets Michael, his death-row client, he is consumed with his woes. At the point of this meeting, the story finally becomes interesting. The Michael Tiegs character offers his perspective and interjects some unusual concepts into the mess and helps the story become interesting.
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Henry W. (Lake Barrington, IL)
A quirky read
A combination love story, mystery, philosophy and fantasy story. An interesting though at times confusing journey of a young man's transition from youthful fantasy life to the reality of adulthood. Along the way the the characters discuss afterlife from a philosophical perspective to reality. The cast of characters range from the very normal to an out of touch death row inmate. While quirky and at times disjointed a desire to come to resolution with characters forces one to continue to read the book. In the end an unusual read but worth the effort for those who enjoy the unusual.
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Brenda S. (Winter Haven, FL)
Let's talk self-indulgence
This is a story that was written in waves. Some nice highs and lows, no whitecaps. Love and life are not always easy or joyful; however, the reaction does not have to be predictable.
The story started slow, sped up slightly, then washed us to shore. Not a fan of the writing style. Hoping the next book will keep me at sea...
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Suzanne (AZ)
Not a strong book—
In my opinion the story tended to jump around, and I said a lot of "What?" It would take awhile to put two and two together and then I'd hit another wall and have to try to decipher what the author was saying. The story itself was interesting and the author certainly shows an ability with words; he only needs to work on the flow of those words. In a way it reminded me of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, having the same kind of tongue-in-cheek humor. I'm not sure I'd recommend this book. It would be hard to explain the premise of the story.
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