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About Grace
A Novel
by Anthony Doerr


8.1

based on 13 reviews
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based on 7 votes
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Official Publisher Site

This debut novel from the author of The Shell Collector centers on an Alaskan man who throughout his life has been able to glimpse scenes from his future. When he foresees the death of his daughter, he abandons his wife and child and moves to a Caribbean island, hoping to avert her fate.

Scribner, 416 pages
09/21/2004
$25.00

ISBN: 0743261828

Fiction
General Literature & Fiction

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

The Independent Peter Carty

Towards the end Doerr's descriptive powers flag a little, but overall this is a formidable literary achievement that, like Winkler's snow crystals, integrates facets and dimensions into a near-perfect whole.

The Spectator Robert Edric

Winkler’s own calculations, wonder and puzzled awe are matched perfectly by Doerr’s prose, a straightforward narration and style finely tuned to its purpose, compelling, balanced and anchored to the solid ground of the story being told; and yet with a finesse, flair and precision equally suited to its grander themes and to the heart and soul of the man at their centre.

The Guardian Rachel Hore

Winkler's dreams are never allowed to overwhelm this moving, compassionate novel, but instead offer myriad opportunities for reflection on memory, the value of the present moment, the inspiration of hope.

Entertainment Weekly Nicholas Fonseca

Doerr nearly drowns beneath an annoying surfeit of drippy water metaphors, but About Grace remains grounded because he keeps a steady grasp on Winkler's roiling emotions, never allowing the reluctant antihero to become a simpering, aimless fool.

Library Journal Starr E. Smith

With clear, precise writing, Doerr creates cinematic images of gorgeous landscapes and of the highly individualistic characters who populate David's circle of acquaintances in this unusual tale. [15 Oct 2004, p.53]

Washington Post Margot Livesey

A beautiful and expansive novel.

Daily Telegraph Claire Messud

And the rhythms of Doerr's gorgeous writing, so suited to the short-story form, can, over 400 pages, feel contrived and precious.

Los Angeles Times Mark Rozzo

An extended meditation on the tides and eddies of life itself, spun out in sentences that never fail to thrill, amaze or edify. [3 Oct 2004, p.R10]

Daily Telegraph Matthew Alexander

The central narrative device (Winkler's random clairvoyance) pushes the bounds of plausibility to the point of discomfort in the context of the novel.

San Francisco Chronicle Dan Zigmond

Despite the initially captivating material, the novel quickly bogs down, and much of it seems deeply, frustratingly improbable.

The New York Times Book Review Neel Mukherjee

Doerr's interest in nature is so obsessive that the whole equation of man in nature becomes heavily skewed in favor of the latter, producing fiction of rapturous beauty but of an oddly cold, uninvolving nature, as if it were embalmed in its own lustrous style.

Kirkus Reviews

It's much too long, and is significantly marred by its climactic momentum toward a reconciliation that simply isn't very credible.

Publishers Weekly

There are gorgeous moments here, but a stifling lack of story.

The average user rating for this book is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

june p gave it a7:
I found this book very slow. Divived into six books, only the last book was so well written I could not put it down. The ending was a little contrived, but non-the-less still very readable. Pity it took so long to get my attention.

David A gave it a10:
A terrific, heart-wrenching novel that takes you from Alaska to the Grenadines and back. The best novel of the year.

Jermaine C gave it a10:
An absolutely beautiful novel. Anybody looking for a well-written, powerful novel about nature, family, and longing, will love this novel.

Sam M gave it a1:
All together now can we say "BORING" I can't believe anyone would think highly of this book. Sure the blurb and rave reviews pulled me in but it had nothing in there that inticed me to read on. His past was the most exciting. And whats that saying when most of the book is written in present? I would not recommend this book to anyone except for those I wish would die...of boredom!

Dave P gave it a10:
An outstanding novel. Compelling, well-written. Sensational.

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About Grace A Novel by Anthony Doerr

About Grace
A Novel
by Anthony Doerr