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For those posting as they read, this is for discussion of roughly the first half of the book (Chapters 1-11).

What do you make of the unmarked prologue, where David describes his grandparents and the genesis of this story? Does it heighten your expectation of what follows? What do you make of the closing remark from his grandfather ("You're a writer. Make it up.")?

I think it's mark of what's to come. Stories in stories.

I am about half way through the book now. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to read this, so I started with the Kindle sample. After I read that, I still wasn't sure, but I bought the book for Kindle anyway. I seem to have kept reading, and I plan to finish the book, but I still have sort of mixed feelings about it. I can't explain--even to myself--what it is that attracts me to this book and holds my interest. Amazon tells me that people who like The Sisters Brothers also buy this book, and I loved the The Sisters Brothers. This book is not like the Sisters Brothers, but there is something similar about the appealing nature of the book.

Casceil wrote: "I am about half way through the book now. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to read this, so I started with the Kindle sample. After I read that, I still wasn't sure, but I bought the book for Kindl..."

I have to admit to finding that pretty amusing. If I were to try pinning a reason on what kept my attention, it would be the the juxtaposition of Kolya's Bohemian exhuberance against Lev's worldy ignorance and myopic worldview. Kolya is the sort of person who makes everything seem not only worthwhile, but possible. It's difficult to resist his magnetic charm, even as a reader. Further thoughts should probably be posted in a later thread to allow for a few spoilers, but it's an interesting topic. I'd be curious to know if anyone else found themselves drawn to this story without being able to quite put a finger on why that was.

I love that it's compared to deWitt's book which I also really adored.

I'm going to respond with some rather clumsy conclusions. Please don't pick at them too much, they won't hold up. :) Ok that's unfair, have at it.

With a lot of "literary" books, from the last few decades, most of the action is internal, cerebral or takes place off stage. I think both Benioff and deWitt are willing to take on big movement. They're not afraid of action or being dismissed as not cerebral enough but stepping out of line and bringing in action and adrenaline.

I read this book o a Kindle, and it started at the beginning of Chapter 1. When my husband started reading it and looking at the comments, he said "prologue? What unmarked prologue? By going to the cover of the book and paging forward, we found that prologue, which is actually called "Epigraph" in the Kindle table of contents. I'm glad we found it. Better late than never. But I think I may be just as glad I did not see it before I read the book.

I read this in 2012 or 2011. I enjoyed it a lot. I'm enjoying it just as much this time.

I don't know if it's literary or not, but it's damn good.

I think that if you enjoy the time you spend with a book, if you are engaged and absorbed, if you're not criticizing the writing itself as you go, if you are transported, and feel things and care about the characters it doesn't matter what tag you through on a book, it's succeeded. At least for you.

That's pretty crazy about Kindle skipping past the opening text! As much as I enjoy my e-reader, that's another strike against wholesale conversion. The epigraph (as Kindle calls it) had me starting the book with a grin. It's gave a context and setting to the book that rooted it in a personal history, which is part of the reason why I was so won over by this story within a story.

Deborah, I also agree wholeheartedly with your comments. I think the book also functions very much in the moment. There are a few aspects which lend themselves to discussion, but the rest is more about the experience.