By the author of Stanley Park (highly recommended for foodies and Vancouver lovers), Taylor's latest novel traces the lives of two estranged brothers as they intersect with the fate of a dilapidated building in the seedy east side of Vancouver that was designed by their famous architect father. Sibling rivalary, relationships, architecture (modern and Haida), the landscape British Columbia, even boxing, all play roles in this complex and entertaining book.
(unfortunately, Story House is difficult to locate in the U.S., which is surprising given the success of Stanley Park.)

I appreciated what Taylor was trying to do, but I wasn't in the head space or I don't have enough appreciation for architecture to fully "get" this book. There was some great use of language and I liked the tension between the brothers, but I could feel myself skimming a lot of the architecture info.

I'm not giving this a star review because I can understand that the book showed a fair amount of skillful writing, but I didn't enjoy it and didn't appreciate it.

Not as good as Stanley Park, but a 4/5

an almost mythic tale of two brothers

Phenomenal, as expected from Timothy Taylor. Almost too rich in content and style. So many themes, so many metaphors, so much magic, so much LIFE and LOVE, in all their painful complexity.

I enjoyed this book every bit as much as Stanley Park. The story is certainly complicated enough and there is a lot of architecture involved. However, use of architecture and its effects on people is a very good exploration of the human condition.

Did not finish

Really liked this book. Definitely adds knowing Vancouver and having Matta Clark images in my head. I loved the stories starting and then being filled in and completed pages/chapters later. It's helpful to be a patient reader here.

I did not finish this book.

A bit complicated of a story at times but Taylor's exploration of the effects of architecture on people and the relationships between members of a dysfunctional family trying to "make things right" is a great exploration of the human condition. The story was a bit hard to follow at times, but getting to the ending made it worthwhile.

-page 86-87
"I need to tell you something," he said to her, interrupting.
She listened, at least. Graham heard her sit back in what sounded like a soft chair, probably in the club lounge. He pictured her: skin darkened by the sun, now added colour rising in her cheeks as she focused on his next words. Korean features prettier in concentration.
"When I was in L.A.," Graham told her, "I met a man who had a house built by my father. He's a producer. Avi Zweigler."
Esther registered the receipt of data. "Okay," she said.
"Zweigler collects Packer Gordon. Models, tools, blueprints. Amazing."
Still listening. No premature move toward a conclusion. "Okay," she repeated.
"Zweigler bought my father's camera," Graham told her. "The movie camer he used to film his projects. The camera he also used . . ."
"I remember," Esther said, growing impatient. She was expert at remaining calm in the face of an uncertain future, but always less successful hiding her feeling about the dead weight of the particular past. And discussion of this part of Graham's past, Esther had long thought , only revealed Packer Gordon to be (in addition to famous, a philanderer and bad with money) capable of cruelty. And that was a sunk cost, the valuation of which was irrational."

What a disappointment! I loved his first book, so I forced myself to finish this one, even though I didn't like it. I just kept thinking he would change my mind near the end. Nope! I found this book so confusing; I had a hard time keeping up with up where the characters were and what time they were in. I think that was the point, but I just found it annoying. I also felt that he didn't develop the characters enough. Oh, and I hated the ending.

Seemingly filled with way too many digressions that distract and pull focus from the main point.