Winter's Tale

Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin is one of the most transcendent, mystical and magical pieces of literature I've ever read (and I've read a library's worth). As one professional reviewer put it, "Mark Helprin writes like an ANGEL...". This description captures in a few words what I would echo here, with more detail. I would recommend this book to everyone...except the latest generation, I think. Thoughts on that further down!Winter's tale is hard to share and describe to others, simply because it's almost impossible to categorize. There really feels as if there is no precedent, no "starting point" to begin a description. Its a multi-age, historical fantasy, adventure, love story wrapped in allegory, examining our modern cultural conceits. See what I mean?I wont go into the details of the story, other than its the story of the journey of Peter Lake, from childhood to adult, in multiple ages and dimensions (though the multi-age and dimensions aren't really fleshed out but left to the reader to interpret). His growth from a young Bayonne Bayou tribesman to Victorian cat burglar to hero of the downtrodden and love interest of the tragically doomed is so sweeping, so varied, it can't be described...so I'll stop here on that...The one aspect I would bring to the potential readers' attention is the fantastical elements. At any given moment, some small miraculous or fantastical occurrence may happen - it may be intrinsic to the story arc, or it may just be a small "side scene". These are mostly included for gentle, subtle humor and are tremendously entertaining and effective, and help transport the reader to an almost magical place in their imagination. Its as if all the strange, goofy and impossible things that might flit across the mind during our daily grind, things that stimulate or give us pleasure but we know would never happen - these things DO happen in the world of Peter Lake. If this sort of writing frustrates you, if you are the type that likes a book for its "gritty, authentic realism"...run away from this book!And now, for the disappointing thoughts - I don't know if I can recommend the book to the last two generations, Gen Y and Z. Why?This book is one that DEPENDS upon you being able to be mentally, emotionally and spiritually whisked away to a world of beautiful, transporting "other-ness". Its a book you read alone, by a fireplace with a cup of tea, maybe late at night when the veil between the "mundane" world we live in and the similar but fantastical world created by Helprin is thinnest. It's here that the adventures of Peter Lake, the romance with Beverly Penn, his wars with the "Dead Rabbits" gang, his magical secret home behind the electric stars in the dome of Grand Central Station, all become believable and real, and are able to best pierce the head and heart.Its NOT a book that can be taken in through headphones, being read to you as you commute to work or as you work out in the gym. Its not one you can skim on your phone's Kindle app app while waiting for you next meeting or taking a lunch break. Or, one you read in fits and starts, tiny slices at a time in between your other, super active social or work schedules. And unfortunately, that seems to be the only way the current under 30 generation is willing to take in information - in tiny slices, and though their smartphone :(I know that is a gross generalization, and many of that generation DO manage to develop an understanding and love for taking in good literature. Its just not the majority, unfortunately. I shed tears for what is slowly being lost in our culture.So...do you deserve the privilege of reading this fantastic novel? Do you want your perception of reality, of love and of a magical cold winter's day to be forever changed? Then do whatever it takes to take in this book, the right way and with the right frame of mind. I wish you a magical journey!

Helprin is in love with language and 800 pages allows him ample opportunity to gloriously stun the reader with imagery, humor, magical realism/fantasy, allegory, mythology, and love. What is magical in the world he creates seems worth imagining. It seemed that "if only" it were possible -- if good and evil were in perfect balance and justice prevailed, then all things (motors, architecture, bridges, buildings) and all people (old, young, beautiful, ugly, rich and poor, clever and talented and not) would find love. Love, here, being the appreciation of individual talents-of individuality itself. Certainly there were sections I found more tedious than others; but Helprin truly is in love with words and images and with cities and the mechanics of things-- the engineering. This book is a love letter-- to improbable love, to fated love, to family, and especially to New York- which is built, rebuilt, and will forever be rebuilt as a city striving for justice in a golden light. Written in 1983, parts are eerily prescient and I thought often of current politics and the destruction of the Twin Towers. I will never look at ice in the same way. The movie trailers make this seem like "just a time-travel love story" and it's so much more! Yes, it is challenging reading but it is also amazing reading. I think it might be a "love it or hate it" book. (Mostly) I loved it.

I'm confused how this book has an average of 3.5 stars, with over 200 5-star reviews. The beginning of the book was entertaining and intriguing (even though I spent the first half of the book trying to figure out what time periods the novel was set in). The middle was agonizing with unnecessary detail at times-- I skimmed a decent amount-- but I stuck with it out of stubbornness, convinced that in the end everything would come together and make sense. The story did become more intriguing and entertaining again towards the end, but now that I'm finished, I still don't fully understand what I read! For example, Peter Lake's seemingly omniscient comments like, "I understand now what it is I need to do, and why" (paraphrasing, of course) were ambiguous loose ends that were not quite tied. Even though we, as readers, witnessed his behaviors (in response to his epiphany), the why was never explained. Why, for example, did he have to switch out Hardesty's (plate?) for the white horse in the courtyard, where not a single soul was standing guard? And what, exactly, was the significance of crossing paths with/the dreams of the dying child? Even after getting beyond the obvious unrealistic aspects of this novel (time travel, bringing the dead back to life, etc), there are just too many other aspects of this book that left me frustrated, confused, and just plain unsatisfied. Spend your precious time and hard earned money on something else!

I love the Love Story of ♥️Peter Lake and Beverley Peen ♥️

Ein wunderbares, modernes Fantasy/Maerchen, grossartig geschrieben. Auch der Film ist sehr zu empfehlen.

Whatever the pros and cons of the upcoming film may be (personally I have no intention of seeing it) one great thing to come from its release is that this wonderful book is now finally available on Kindle.Mostly set in a kind of mythical New York the story covers so many characters and interwoven tales that a plot summary is nearly impossible. However, the main two characters as far as I'm concerned (other people may find other characters grab their attention more) are Peter Lake - a kind hearted criminal on the run from one of his former gangs - and Beverly Penn - a consumptive girl who Peter meets and falls in love with while attempting to burgle her home.The novel is one of the best examples of 'magical realism' I've encountered. The turn of the century New York in which most of the action takes place is evocatively described and many of the characters deal with very difficult and important issues in the real world and their thoughts and dilemmas are described by Helprin in very real terms. Almost everything, though, is shot through with magic and fantasy - from white guardian horses to after death returns of loved ones to physics defying pool shots - and so even the most realistic scenes are tinted by the background presence of magic.Yes, it is rather long, and, yes, at times things get almost needlessly complicated and confusing, but stick with it and you'll find a very poignant and moving work that can be enjoyed on many levels.

i am halfway through this book, and i will tell you something (very honestly); i hardly know why i like it.i usually do not enjoy contemporary fiction—preferring the classics. i have frequent disappointment with contemporary narrative; i that feel often there is a lot of style but very little substance. a winter's tale has style for days, this is true, but the substance of it is a vibration. you feel it without being completely certain where it is coming from. nevertheless, this vibration is real and resonating. i feel like i am learning something about my own humanity. i am only halfway through the book—reading it slowly and chewing over the lyrical beauty of its passages. already, i feel sadness—an anticipation of grief that this journey that is touching me so inarticulately has an inevitable finish. this is not a read where you read it wondering how it will end, perhaps, even tempted to skip to the end. no. it is like a song that fills you with a thousand memories that you want to play over and over and wishing it was endless.

My favourite book ...EVER. Bridges. New York. Beautiful Girls. Theives. Marshmen. Flying White Horses. Snow Chases. Love. Loveble characters. a Story like no other... Just need it to be a film.