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Sharon J. (Raleigh, NC)
Review of Dinosaurs, by Lydia Millet
Millet's new novel, Dinosaurs, is the story of a man named Gil who initially appeared as a rather eccentric person who walks for almost five months from New York to Arizona in search of a fresh new start. After losing his parents at an early age and being raised as an orphan, he spends much of his life responding to being wealthy seeking out opportunities to give back and connect to others in the most innocent and heartfelt ways. The story, while rather simple, was rich with material to discuss and ponder. The allegory of the castle next to the glass house, the birds of the desert evolved from dinosaurs, friendships, life and death are all woven into this lovely story.
Shirley_T
Dinasaurs by Lydia Millet
The novel begins slowly with more than a hint of sadness as the principal character, Gil, walks away from a personal sorrow ending up a long distance from home. This is almost an old fashioned story, full of connections with nature and human behavior.
In the Arizona desert, in two very different dwellings, one enclosed and one open with glass walls a friendship develops which is very important to this lonely man. The animals and birds of the desert also become part of the story and, with the neighbor's friendship, allow the man to enter society again.
The fact of Gil's unusual wealth which allows him to make decisions which others might not be able to make is the only flaw in this delightful novel.
Jennie_Reece
Surprising!
This story is all about Gil, an unusual man who inherits a large sum of money in his teenage years, from the grandmother who raised him. He doesn't have to earn a living, so he volunteers for different organizations. After his girlfriend breaks up with him, he decides to move from New York to Arizona, wanting a new lifestyle. He also decides to walk the entire way! Once settled into his new home and environment, he notices the wildlife, especially the birds. The house next to his is empty, but when a family with two children move in, he becomes engrossed with them. One entire wall of their home is a window, and Gil can see them as they move about the house. At this point in the story, I really thought things were going to get kind of creepy, but I was wrong. Gil is a rather quiet man, but very kind and big-hearted. The story is more about relationships he forms with his new neighbors, and others. I ended up falling a little bit in love with Gil by the end of the book.
Gloria_Kelly
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet
Most often we think of dinosaurs as being ancient reptiles, but it can also refer to a person or thing that is obsolete because of failure to adapt to changing circumstances. Is this why Gil walked from New York to Arizona after his breakup with Lane? I will leave this question for you, the reader to ponder.
Metaphorically this novel is like a boat floating on calm water. A ripple or wave may change the course of the boat, but not enough to make it capsize.
Dinosaurs is the story of a family who lives in a glass house next door to Gil.
Gil is able to watch his neighbors in the glass house and fantasizes what their life is about. As he becomes "part
of the family" his relationship with Ardis, Ted, Clem, and Tom evolves.
Gil is a man of means who has never worked, but has devoted his life to volunteering providing service to people and charities in need.
The author resides in Arizona and shares her knowledge of desert plants, animals, and birds found in the Arizona landscape.
Each chapter is named after a bird. The author skillfully weaves the character and actions of the birds into the novel. I found this both interesting and intriguing. I hope you will enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Kay_D
Simple Yet Elegant
A small, quiet book with beautiful writing. The simple storyline - all about one very rich yet simple man and his interactions with life, money, people and animals is full of deep pockets of insight. A book that reads easy yet makes the reader pause and think about it even after finishing it. Well worth reading. Probably a good book for book clubs as it will foster discussion of several topics. Highly recommend.
Leslie_R
too literary for me
Having me review this book is probably a disservice to the author. I am a pedestrian reader; I like a beginning, a plot, an ending, and some relatable characters. Dinosaurs is a beautifully written novel, but it is lacking these elements. I am sure there is a literary connection to the title, but I failed to understand it. The book describes in anecdotal form the life of a middle-aged man, orphaned early in life and left with a vast inherited fortune. Having no reason to “work” he spends his time volunteering for various charitable organizations and contemplating the world around him. After a break-up with his girlfriend of fifteen years, he moves from NY city to Phoenix, Arizona and becomes involved with the family next door. He is a good person, appearing not to have a selfish bone in his body. His focus is totally outward; he wants to tend to the needs of all humans and animals in his sphere of influence. Thanks to the subtle humor, this was an entertaining read; but the story did not resonate, and I found no lasting value.
Jessamyn R. (Odenton, MD)
Literary Novel, Done Well
Dinosaurs is a book I might not have picked up without being given a copy - though it does have an eye-catching cover - because it's a book about nothing in the way of literary fiction. That is to say, the plot is that a very rich man lives in the Phoenix suburbs and interacts with his neighbors. Luckily, in the author's hands, it is also a novel that observes everything. The allegory of the castle next to the glass house, the birds of the desert evolved from dinosaurs, a nuanced picture of male friendships, the lives of parents and their children, how we live with death… life is packed into these slim pages.
Ruth_Hollandsworth
Life's up's and down's
It took me a while to get into the story, many characters to remember and who is who. Some of the stories did not flow very well for me. I found Gil and Tom's relationship endearing as Gil comes to Tom's defense when riding on the bus. Gil seems to want to help where he can, sometimes for the better, sometimes making things worse. But, his heart is in it so he believes for the best. I read the book but could not find anything climatic to get involved. I will read it again to see what I missed.
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