# So... I just finished reading "Little, Big" by John Crowley - What did you think of it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-just-finished-reading-little-big-by-john-crowley-what-did-you-think-of-it/675044 "2013-11-29T02:21:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-just-finished-reading-little-big-by-john-crowley-what-did-you-think-of-it/675044/1 "2013-11-29T02:21:06Z")
Per the recommendations in an[earlier dope thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=708438) 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](http://www.amazon.com/Little-Big-John-Crowley/dp/0061120057). 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. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-just-finished-reading-little-big-by-john-crowley-what-did-you-think-of-it/675044/2 "2013-11-29T12:14:18Z")
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](http://www.littlebig25.com/Editions.html) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-just-finished-reading-little-big-by-john-crowley-what-did-you-think-of-it/675044/3 "2013-11-29T18:05:57Z")
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](http://bookwi.se/little-big-john-crowley/) by someone else who didn’t get it (and a link to [another review](http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/100293162) from a dissatisfied reader). > [@](#): > > The story read like what someone else’s dream would look like to an outsider: totally coherent to the person dreaming, but everything contextually important is assumed and never explained; as the reader I was left confused and dissatisfied. A total disappointment. 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. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-just-finished-reading-little-big-by-john-crowley-what-did-you-think-of-it/675044/4 "2013-11-29T18:13:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-just-finished-reading-little-big-by-john-crowley-what-did-you-think-of-it/675044/5 "2013-11-29T18:51:11Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Ever since, I’ve been wondering whether it’s Just Me, and whether I should try again. 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.