Only Revolutions: A Novel
by Mark Z. Danielewski
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mark Z. DanielewskiEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-07-10
ISBN: 0375713905
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Pantheon
Book Reviews of Only Revolutions: A Novel
Book Review: Fine to read, not a good buy
Summary: 2 Stars
After Danielewski's House of Leaves I immediately bought this book, no questions asked. I had it reserved and got one of the first copies, and, while this is a great thing from a fan's standpoint; from a literary standpoint this work is disappointing.
Only Revolutions tells the tale of two young lovers who may, or may not, have lived at the same time. While Danielewski still has imbued the work with riddles and hidden meanings the tale is lost in arbitrary rules set forth by himself for the book to have supposed meaning. While it sounds amazing read aloud, and the tale could have been a good one, Danielewski's attempt at an "epic poem" largely fails. The story and the poetic form did not mesh as well as could have been hoped, and it pails when compared to such works as The Singer Trilogy by Calvin Miller.
It is obvious that Danielewski still has things to say, and they are well worth hearing. It is obvious that he will continue to make an impact upon the literary world, but Only Revolutions seems to follow an ever lengthening line of poor poetry peddled as great story telling (while he still manages to stay above the level of Ellen Hopkins -- hailed as a ground-breaker, truly just hack).
Summary of Only Revolutions: A Novel
Sam:They were with us before Romeo & Juliet. And long after too. Because they're forever around. Or so both claim, carolling gleefully:
We're allways sixteen.
Sam & Hailey, powered by an ever-rotating fleet of cars, from Model T to Lincoln Continental, career from the Civil War to the Cold War, barrelling down through the Appalachians, up the Mississippi River, across the Badlands, finally cutting a nation in half as they try to outrace History itself.
By turns beguiling and gripping, finally worldwrecking, Only Revolutions is unlike anything ever published before, a remarkable feat of heart and intellect, moving us with the journey of two kids, perpetually of summer, perpetually sixteen, who give up everything except each other.
Hailey:
They were with us before Tristan & Isolde. And long after too. Because they're forever around. Or so both claim, gleefully carolling:
We're allways sixteen.
Hailey & Sam, powered by an ever-rotating fleet of cars, from Shelby Mustang to Sumover Linx, careen from the Civil Rights Movement to the Iraq War, tearing down to New Orleans, up the Mississippi River, across Montana, finally cutting a nation in half as they try to outrace History itself.
By turns enticing and exhilarating, finally breathtaking, Only Revolutions is unlike anything ever conceived before, a remarkable feat of heart and intellect, moving us with the journey of two kids, perpetually of summer, perpetually sixteen, who give up everything except each other.
Mark Danielewski's first novel House of Leaves is a cult-favorite--experimental horror fiction in a gorgeous (and newly remastered) full-color package. His new book Only Revolutions takes the experiment 10 steps further in a story about teenage lovers Hailey and Sam: the book is printed on two sides--one side tells the story from Hailey's point of view, flip it over and you get Sam's side (literally). We caught a glimpse inside the mind-bending new novel--take a look for yourself below.
Inside Only Revolutions
 Hailey's Story |  Covers |  Sam's Story |
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