Negative Positive
Title: Very language-oriented. Makes the eye travel slower.
Review: This is not Jones' best, but it's definitely his most ambitious. He's trying to mark out territory as an important writer here, bidding to be a Big Gun. Commentary on society, etc. People in the throes of crucial emotions in their lives, etc. He's more at ease with the metaphysical, as in "Particles and Luck." "Particles and Luck" is a truly beautiful little book. A classic. However, I must say, the looser structure in "Californias Over" (the wandering over three decades in several characters' lives, the multiple point-of view, the flash-forwards to warn reader of future developments) all allow a new complexity here. And Jones' poetry is present. I just happen to prefer the tighter structure. His earlier books are more like DeLillo -- seem to have been directly influenced by DeLillo -- whereas this is more touchie-feelie.
Is the review positive or negative? 