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The Emperor's Children
 
 

The Emperor's Children (Hardcover)

by Claire Messud (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
List Price: CDN$ 30.00
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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Marina Thwaite, Danielle Minkoff and Julian Clarke were buddies at Brown, certain that they would soon do something important in the world. But as all near 30, Danielle is struggling as a TV documentary maker, and Julius is barely surviving financially as a freelance critic. Marina, the startlingly beautiful daughter of celebrated social activist, journalist and hob-nobber Murray Thwaite, is living with her parents on the Upper West Side, unable to finish her book"titled The Emperor's Children Have No Clothes (on how changing fashions in children's clothes mirror changes in society). Two arrivals upset the group stasis: Ludovic, a fiercely ambitious Aussie who woos Marina to gain entrée into society (meanwhile planning to destroy Murray's reputation), and Murray's nephew, Frederick "Bootie" Tubb, an immature, idealistic college dropout and autodidact who is determined to live the life of a New York intellectual. The group orbits around the post"September 11 city with disconcerting entitlement"and around Murray, who is, in a sense, the emperor. Messud, in her fourth novel, remains wickedly observant of pretensions"intellectual, sexual, class and gender. Her writing is so fluid, and her plot so cleverly constructed, that events seem inevitable, yet the narrative is ultimately surprising and masterful as a contemporary comedy of manners. 100,00 announced first printing; author tour.(Sept. 4)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From AudioFile

One of the criticisms sometimes heard of audiobooks is that they filter a piece of writing through a third party--the narrator--thereby influencing the reader's own pure reaction to the book. That complaint comes to mind here, despite what is clearly an expert, fiercely intelligent narration by Suzanne Toren. From the beginning, she captures the pomposity and hypocrisy of the central character, Murray Thwaite, a liberal intellectual journalist in New York in the period before and after 9/11. But, whereas Messud's brilliant novel about the privileged, unfulfilled young of Manhattan reveals Thwaite's essential negative qualities OVER TIME, Toren's dead-on characterization nails his essence from his very first appearance--depriving the reader's own sense of discovery. This performance is a useful reminder that narrators are more than that. They are guides. M.O. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
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1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3.0 out of 5 stars Is that All There Is?, Feb 7 2007
By Kelly Rossiter (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   
I found The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud a bit of a disappointment. I think part of my problem with the book is the huge amount of hype it has received. It's not that it's a bad book - it was quite readable, but it's really just another novel about tedious 30ish New Yorkers who haven't achieved the great things they expected. The characters are predictable - Marina the beautiful, wealthy, vapid daughter of a literary lion Murray, Danielle the quirky smart artistic best friend, and Julius the poverty stricken gay guy who rounds out their trio. Messud offers up some interesting plot (and character) possibilities, but she doesn't really follow through with them. Murray's nephew Frederick insinuates himself into their lives, writes a damning article about his uncle and then literally disappears without his character having any of the impact on the others that the reader is led to expect. Messud also builds a sense of impending doom regarding the upcoming marriage of Marina and Ludo, an Australian journalist. Why the his serious interest in her father? Why the whirlwind romance? What is it that he really wants from her? Why do all of the characters other than Marina mistrust and dislike him? Then the whole situation fizzles out after the nuptuals and nothing happens. The section that really delivers is between Julius and his lover. I was constantly torn between enjoying Messud's writing and wondering why she wasn't delivering more.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo, Nov 23 2006
By B. V. Michael - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This is an impressive book which I agree is a page turner and will keep your interest to the very end, which is quite surprising and welcomed. There are several characters that go through numerous ups and downs while searching for their way in life. I am glad that "The Emperor''s Children" appeared around September 11 because it really helps you to look further and to keep your faith and optimism. Highly recommended.
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