This is such an endearing story, I didn't want it to end. George, who we follow to age 14 (a very old and experienced 14), is utterly humane - earnest, lovable, flawed - and sometimes I wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake him as he made bad choices for good reasons.

I came to this book because readers of my own novels said I was a similar writer of characters who you love for their flaws, their vulnerability, their humanity. Well, Nicholas Meyer did it better, and I bow to him. ( )

I found this to be flat and odd. I just couldn't identify with the protagonist at all. Ended up giving up about 25% into the book. I did like the chapter on Rome... but aside from that, it was downright boring. ( )

Utterly wonderful. Compulsively readable. The book tells the story of George from the time his trapeze-artist parents die, through the years, and continents, to finding the love of his life. The story revolves alot around the ideas of coincidence and chance in society. Wonderfully told, it bears a slight resemblance to catcher in the rye, but was a lot better (stuff actually happens and it's very moving). ( )