Comments for Ian G. Watson http://www.ianwatson.ca Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:49:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Wheels of Fortune by Larry Van Pelt http://www.ianwatson.ca/?p=413&cpage=1#comment-38 Larry Van Pelt Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:49:48 +0000 http://www.ianwatson.ca/?p=413#comment-38 <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;">       This book is set in my grandparents time, but their rural Appalachia was clearly nothing like Ontario. So it took me awhile (approx. 100 pages) to get used to the Wheels folk and their foibles.       Having camped in The Kawarthas where the story takes place, I was soon drawn into a rural life stitched together by railways and ferries, as it would have been in 1900. After the first run-in with a highwayman, the story had me. This is when the full force of rural life began to impact the urban adventurers. I realized what was happening to these citified heroes whose cycling holiday turns into a major character-building experience. I also realized that some of the intrepid cyclists had private agendas.       This book works in a number of different ways. I leave you to discover them for yourself.       Another reviewer used the word: masterful. I concur.       Caveat: I am rarely attracted to historical fiction. Such works rarely elicit a favorable response from me.       Nevertheless, I give Wheels a... <br />       STRONG RECOMMENDATION! <br /><br /><br />       Larry Van Pelt :-) </div>       This book is set in my grandparents time, but their rural Appalachia was clearly nothing like Ontario. So it took me awhile (approx. 100 pages) to get used to the Wheels folk and their foibles.
      Having camped in The Kawarthas where the story takes place, I was soon drawn into a rural life stitched together by railways and ferries, as it would have been in 1900. After the first run-in with a highwayman, the story had me. This is when the full force of rural life began to impact the urban adventurers. I realized what was happening to these citified heroes whose cycling holiday turns into a major character-building experience. I also realized that some of the intrepid cyclists had private agendas.
      This book works in a number of different ways. I leave you to discover them for yourself.
      Another reviewer used the word: masterful. I concur.
      Caveat: I am rarely attracted to historical fiction. Such works rarely elicit a favorable response from me.
      Nevertheless, I give Wheels a…

      STRONG RECOMMENDATION!

      Larry Van Pelt :-) ]]> Comment on Wheels of Fortune by Wendy Reis http://www.ianwatson.ca/?p=413&cpage=1#comment-36 Wendy Reis Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:28:33 +0000 http://www.ianwatson.ca/?p=413#comment-36 <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:bold;">I found this novel riveting from the first few lines. The facts are documented, the characters are entertaining and believable. This author is one of the most gifted I have encountered in the area of puns and plays-on-words. Literally a groan per page and worth every one. Masterfully done.       Each main character --- the three central men in particular --- goes through a metamorphosis in how he views himself and sees his companions in a two week period of time. Their journey is life changing on every level of their existence. Finely crafted characters on the growth experience of a lifetime are a pleasure to observe and get to know.       I would read this novel again, and recommend it to others. I believe it has a vast market appeal that transcends age groups.       EXCELLENT piece of work.</div> I found this novel riveting from the first few lines. The facts are documented, the characters are entertaining and believable. This author is one of the most gifted I have encountered in the area of puns and plays-on-words. Literally a groan per page and worth every one. Masterfully done.
      Each main character — the three central men in particular — goes through a metamorphosis in how he views himself and sees his companions in a two week period of time. Their journey is life changing on every level of their existence. Finely crafted characters on the growth experience of a lifetime are a pleasure to observe and get to know.
      I would read this novel again, and recommend it to others. I believe it has a vast market appeal that transcends age groups.
      EXCELLENT piece of work. ]]>