Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin is a captivating and enchanting novel. It takes readers on a magical journey through the wintry landscapes of New York City. The story weaves together elements of romance, fantasy, and mystery, creating a truly unique and unforgettable reading experience.

The characters in Winter's Tale are richly developed and complex. From the heroic Peter Lake, a thief with a heart of gold, to the beautiful and mysterious Beverly Penn, each character adds depth and dimension to the story. The author's vivid descriptions bring the city to life, making it almost a character in its own right.

The plot of Winter's Tale is filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. It explores themes of love, fate, and redemption, leaving readers with a sense of hope and wonder. Whether you're a fan of fantasy, romance, or simply a good story, Winter's Tale is a must-read.

Bettie's Books

DNFd at 9% at was sounding like an underage group sexual activity.

This is truly a disturbing and concerning situation. The very thought of anything related to underage group sexual activity is abhorrent and goes against the most basic principles of morality and the law.

Such activities can have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of the individuals involved, causing emotional, psychological, and physical harm.

It is essential that society takes a strong stance against any form of underage sexual exploitation and works to protect the rights and well-being of children.

Law enforcement agencies, social workers, and the community as a whole must be vigilant in detecting and addressing such cases promptly.

Education and awareness programs are also crucial in preventing underage sexual activity and ensuring that young people understand the importance of respecting boundaries and making healthy choices.

We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this issue and must do everything in our power to safeguard the future of our children.

Winter’s Tale is crafted in the enchanting language of wizardry, adopting a style that is deeply magical. It resides within the realm of magical reality, where the merest touch of a quill can transform everything into the surreal.

The city unleashes its might upon him, shattering through the ring of white shells that adorn his head. He stumbles amidst the chaos of Broadway and the Bowery, bewildered by all that he witnesses. For example, a man rotates a handle on a box, and out spills music, while a curious being, part-animal and part-man, capers about on the street, gathering items in his hat.

The poetry of the city, the music of the streets, the charms of youth, and the sorcery of love all converge. They abandon themselves to the stars as swimmers yield to the waves, and the stars embrace them without hesitation.

The witchcraft of love has the power to transmute winter into a fairytale, and the clamor of the town into the celestial music of the spheres.

I was completely and utterly charmed by this book when I was 200 pages in. However, afterwards, my enthusiasm waned. Slogging through the last 100 pages was really difficult for me, especially considering that I usually love long books.

The summary of Winter's Tale focuses a great deal on Peter Lake and Beverly Penn, but their story takes up only a fraction of this saga. I was most intrigued by Peter Lake's life and the Short Tails' vendetta, but these elements disappear towards the middle of the book. Instead, Helprin takes the reader on a sweeping overview of "New York," complete with a new set of characters and a transcontinental road trip. It's always winter in this fictional world, and the author is happy to remind you.

The "city" is the main character in this book, yet it bears little resemblance to any part of New York, past or present. The magical realism elements, like the Lake of the Coheeries or the city-dwellers moving to the ice when the streets freeze, are the most interesting parts. Besides Peter Lake and Beverly, the other characters are rather interchangeable. They work at the Sun newspaper and believe in perfectly just societies, and their merit is so great that they can't help but succeed. It's incredibly dull.

Something about Winter's Tale, whether it's the setting or the contrast between the Good Characters (the staff of the Sun) and the Lazy, Evil Characters (the staff of the Ghost), strongly reminded me of Ayn Rand. While Helprin may advocate for Justice instead of objectivism, there's something sanctimonious and overly indulgent about it. Nothing in this book truly connects with real human experience, except perhaps for the love story between Peter Lake and Beverly Penn. Sadly, the Peter Lake storyline takes up only about a fourth of the book.

Helprin is clearly a talented writer, but this book seems directionless and ultimately forgettable. The best thing that can be said about it is that it has the potential to be a beautiful, evocative movie. However, cutting out the padding and creating a coherent narrative would be essential to improve the story.

EDIT 2/11/14: This movie was TERRIBLE. I blame Akiva Goldman for the screenplay. Do screenwriters automatically assume that audiences are stupid? The dialogue in this movie was as subtle as a sledgehammer, and the overall plot arc was even worse than in the book. All I wanted was the scene where the Short Tails climb into their cemetery of the honored dead under the reservoir. UGH GOD HOW DID THIS HAPPEN WHY WAS THIS SO TERRIBLE.

Having noticed in recent years my tendency towards overstatement when it comes to my enthusiasm for certain books, movies, bands, and so on, and my rather poor understanding of the meaning of the word "favorite", as I use it far too frequently and for such a wide variety of materials that the standard meaning no longer really applies, I made a decision. I decided that I should not use it in reference to a book that I have only read once. However, it was extremely difficult to follow this rule with this particular book. I first read it in 2011, and in the time that has passed since then, I have purchased perhaps 8 copies and given them away based solely on that initial enthusiasm. Now, I have read it twice. It has truly become a favorite and is likely to join "The Moviegoer", "Pale Fire", "Godric", and "Till We Have Faces" on my list of books to read annually.

I think of Helprin's prose in a very particular way. It's as if Nabokov had been a native English speaker. I can't think of many other writers whose eloquence seems so effortless and unforced. In "Winter's Tale", that remarkable eloquence is put to good use in service of characters who seem both archetypal and yet completely believable as real people. The story itself has a mythic permanence and grandeur to it. It is wise without being overly preachy and funny without any hint of cynicism. It is truly exciting. In every possible way, it succeeds.

There are numerous aspects that I truly admired about this book.

It vividly depicted the multifaceted nature of New York, with some elements being fantastical and others historical.

The characters and their adventures within the realm of "time" were highly engaging, captivating my attention from the start.

However, despite these initial attractions, I found myself unable to progress beyond page 500.

Somehow, I simply lost my momentum and enthusiasm.

Helprin is indeed a competent writer, a solid wordsmith who can craft sentences with precision.

For the first couple of hundred pages, I did enjoy his writing.

But as I delved deeper, I realized that I was seeking a writer of greater artistry, someone who could elevate the story to a higher level.

Moreover, I felt that his politics were seeping into the narrative here and there, and they seemed rather simplistic to me.

This, in turn, caused me to lose faith in what he was attempting to convey.

Interestingly, I had no prior knowledge of his politics before reading the book, but it was quite easy to make an educated guess about them as I read on.

Overall, while there were aspects of the book that I liked, there were also several factors that prevented me from fully immersing myself in the story.

I wasn't planning to read this book again. However, when my friend Lynn chose it for our October "real life" book club selection, I had to give it another go. I had read it back in 1985, and although I couldn't recall many details, I vividly remembered adoring it. And then it happened...

At the September meeting, the criticism began to pour in. "Well," said one woman, "I almost never give up on a book, but I couldn't get through more than a hundred pages of this one. And could someone please explain to me what on earth a 'cloud wall' is supposed to be?" "It's so incredibly long," complained another member. "I'm about a third of the way through, and I'm not sure I want to finish," whined yet another. I found myself thinking, "Wait a minute. I LOVED this book, didn't I? Or was I just young, naïve, and overly idealistic when I first read it?"

So, I picked up the book and read it again. And yes - I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! It still has the power to cast a spell, and the very same elements that captivated me over 25 years ago still hold me in their grip.
***New York City, a place firmly rooted in reality, yet enhanced with fantastical elements and populated by larger-than-life characters.
***Winter, both cruel and beautiful, with its pristine and freezing cold that can turn rivers and lakes into solid ice, deep enough for palaces to be constructed and carnivals to be held.
***Magic that weaves through the book like wispy tendrils, and clouds that form mysterious walls, behind which lies an unknown world.
***Here, you'll encounter legendary lake monsters and flying horses.
***A burglar who follows his heart and transforms into a hero.
***A young woman, suffering from consumption, who spends each winter night on the roof, wrapped in blankets and furs, inhaling the precious, frigid air.
***A villain who is entranced by color.
***A couple who engages in long conversations through the paper-thin walls of their apartments, falling in love before ever seeing each other.

Sounds amazing, doesn't it? But what's wrong with the women in my book club? True, Lynn and I are the only members who aren't grandmothers, but does getting older mean sacrificing your childlike sense of wonder and imagination? I refuse to quietly enter that dark and dull void where I'm only content reading books like The Help, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. (Mind you, these aren't bad books, but they're safe choices. What's the point of a book club if everyone just says, "Yes, I loved the book," and then quietly sips their wine?)

So, this month, on the third Wednesday, I'll head to the book club armed with my love for this book, ready to FIGHT for it and argue that we need to read more books like it! Will I be able to change the hearts and minds of these women who seem so attached to their drab tales of marital crisis and family strife? Only time will tell. (I'll definitely make sure to eat dessert first, just in case they decide to kick me out!)
AND, if you've made it this far...here's your reward - perhaps the best line about books ever written in a book: The shelf was filled with books that were hard to read, that could devastate and remake one's soul, and that, when they were finished, had a kick like a mule. Please, fellow readers, don't settle. Seek out books that leave you feeling raw, kicked, ragged, breathless, awake, panting, hungry, and grateful to be alive.

I simply couldn't bring myself to finish this.

I am well aware that a great many people adored it, but alas, it was not to my taste.

In my opinion, it was a convoluted jumble of excessive cutesiness and magical realism that left me rather unimpressed.

I found myself rolling my eyes so frequently that I ultimately had no choice but to cease reading.

However, perhaps you will have a different perspective and enjoy it to a greater extent.

Everyone has their own unique preferences when it comes to literature, and what doesn't appeal to me might be a literary gem in your eyes.

So, give it a try and see if it manages to capture your imagination.

You might just discover a new favorite.

I have to mark this as a Did Not Finish (DNF).

I read Part one and was just starting Part 2. I was 208 pages in when I realized that I didn't really want to know how the story would end. Or perhaps I could live satisfactorily without knowing.

I don't know if it's the book itself or a combination of the story and my current mood, but it's been a struggle to get into it. Now that I'm 1/3 of the way through, I just don't particularly feel like continuing the effort with it.

The first part focuses on Peter Lake, a master thief, and his newfound love, Beverly, and his white horse, which can fly. It takes forever to develop this storyline and the ending of Part 1 is unsatisfying. I don't care to go through this build-up again.

Unfortunately, I don't mind plowing through a long story to see how they resolve. But this book didn't do it for me. Maybe another time, but I've got enough books I still want to read on my bookshelf. It would be quite awhile before I try it again.

Overall, it's a pity that this book didn't capture my interest fully. I had high hopes for it, but it just didn't deliver in the way I expected. Maybe in the future, when my mood is different or when I'm in a different frame of mind, I'll give it another chance. But for now, I'm moving on to other books that I'm more excited about reading.

The story is truly uninteresting to me.

Part of the reason is that I have no clue what the main point is. It seems rather模糊.

The other part is that the plot is extremely difficult to understand. I mean, although I was aware that it was about destiny and true love initially, the subsequent events made no sense at all.

Despite my dislike for the story, Peter and Beverly's love was indeed a crucial element in their fates. Their romance was temporary and bittersweet, perhaps even a little sad.

Regarding the ending, the best way to interpret the idea of Winter's Tale is to uncover the real meaning of our existences here and also figure out the true essence of our destiny. Since this is very profound, I personally believe that opinions vary depending on one's perspective.

Each person may have a different understanding and perception of what the story truly means.

"Ulysses" holds the most significant place in my life, while "Winter's Tale" is my absolute favorite. If "Ulysses" is like that passionate and tumultuous boyfriend/girlfriend whom you're completely head over heels in love with, constantly engaged in fights, breakups, reconciliations, and all the drama that comes with it, then "Winter's Tale" is like the best friend you secretly hope to marry one day.

"Winter's Tale" is an approximately 800-page metaphysical fairy tale set in a fictionalized New York City. It is extremely historical and will appeal to anyone, like me, who is a geek for anything related to the history of Manhattan, especially the sections set during the gang wars in the Five Points neighborhood in the mid-nineteenth century. However, at the same time, the universe in which the book exists is slightly removed from ours, presenting a magic realist retelling of the history of New York and, by extension, America. It follows the story of an extraordinarily skilled grand larcenist named Peter Lake, who may or may not be immortal. Through his experiences and those of an ever-widening web of people associated with him, a mythology is built for the city in which it is set.

The prose is dense and luxurious, and the semi-Dickensian plotline is equally captivating. There are at least 15 characters, each of whom could support an entire book on their own. I guarantee that you will fall in love with someone depicted in this novel. Unlike many modern authors who seem to operate under the assumption that using fewer words makes them cooler, Helrpin crafts phrases, sentences, and paragraphs like gourmet meals. There are moments in this book so powerful that they make the reader forget to breathe. It is truly one of the best literary adventures I've ever had.

Also, I used to own 5 copies of this book, but currently, I know of none. If you happen to have my copy of "Winter's Tale," please return it, won't you?

Winter's Tale is a remarkable and ambitious work. The story follows Peter Lake, who, like Moses and Kal-El, has a unique genesis. Raised by the Baymen, he embarks on a journey from a street urchin to something more. He meets Athansor, a great white horse, and Beverly Penn, a consumptive heiress. Their love story is intertwined with the larger themes of the novel, such as the nature of existence, time, and justice.

The author, Mark Helprin, weaves a complex and rich tapestry of characters and storylines. The city of New York is a central character, portrayed as a crucible with its own set of rules and mysteries. The imagery in the book is vivid and powerful, from the gates that surround the Battery to the colors that fill the city. However, the book also has its flaws. The political diatribes can be intrusive, and the pacing can be uneven at times.

Overall, Winter's Tale is a book that will leave you with a lot to think about. It is a celebration of love, a meditation on the human condition, and a critique of society. Whether you love it or hate it, it is a book that will make you react.