So... I just finished reading "Little, Big" by John Crowley - What did you think of it?

Cafe Society
1

Per the recommendations in anearlier dope thread I downloaded this book in the kindle format and have been reading it over the past few days.

Just finished “Little, Big” by John Crowley. Not sure if it’s a great work of literature or if I’ve been had in some fashion. Still puzzling it out. All in all I think the descriptive artfulness of the literary journey was more interesting than the destination. I cannot ever recall reading a more lushly and beautifully described, intricately woven tale that just sort of disappears into a magical realism fog toward the end, and not (to me) in a particularly satisfactory way. Maybe my perception will change over time.

2

I read it when it came out and really liked it. His previous book had been the much slimmer and wonderful Engine Summer and I had high expectations of Little, Big.
I’ve been meaning to re-read it but I’m aiming to wait for the 25th Anniversray edition to finally appear - maybe next year! It’s been a long time in the works; I actually paid for mine several years ago!
This means my memories are all a bit vague so I can’t really contribute much to a discussion. Sorry.

3

A few years ago I tried to read it. I got two or three hundred pages in before I finally gave up.

Ever since, I’ve been wondering whether it’s Just Me, and whether I should try again. Coincidentally, on the same day this thread started, I read a blog post about the book by someone else who didn’t get it (and a link to another review from a dissatisfied reader).

There are enough people who do love and respect this book that I’m not ready to dismiss it as worthless, but it just didn’t connect with me—and apparently with some other people as well.

4

I’ve tried to read it too. It reminded me of that saying, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

Strained analogy coming: I could have used more signposts, less scenery.

Mark Helprin’s books are kinda like that, but with Helprin, I feel like I’m going somewhere.

5

I first tried to read it about 30 years ago and gave up on it halfway through. I picked it up again five years ago and, my god, it was one of the best things I’ve ever read in my life. Go figure. You do have to abandon any expectations that the book will present a concrete situation or a mystery with a neat resolution. This book doesn’t work like that.

Like Meurglys, I have the (distinctly belated) 25th anniversary edition on pre-order.