Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cryptonomicon
Book Review: A must read
Summary: 5 Stars
I was turned onto this book through a friend and happy I received the recomendation. I loved every page and am looking forward to reading others by Neal Stephenson.
Best Part: Trip report/reimbursement form. (If you have read the book I know you know what I mean abd if you have not I am betting you will openly laugh at this).
Book Review: A reading workout
Summary: 4 Stars
I came to this book as my second Stephenson novel after Snow Crash, and I read that one the first time when I was in junior high. Cryptonomicon was a daunting looking book, but the character development and interesting mix of stories kept me involved to the end. Like other Stephenson books, this one contains a lot of technological excerpts, mostly about math and code breaking, and these can be a pain to get through, but it also contains some of the most realistically human writing of any author. My only concern was the end. I was hoping that after all of that investment, there would be a more realistic ending. After a thousand pages worth of buildup, the ending seemed to be tacked on and all too short. Despite this, if you are a techno nerd who also enjoys an engaging view of WWII history, this is a book for you.Book Review: A thick book, but a great read
Summary: 4 Stars
After reading Snow Crash, I decided on Cryptonomicon as my second Stephenson book to read. This is the story mainly of a young, upcoming math-computer genius who falls into crypto during WWII and his grandson, who is a current day computer "hacker" trying to establish a new business. These two main characters, as well as several other major characters, are tied together over time through information, fate, and the effects of past events. The weaving of the two story lines from WWII and the present day made me want to keep reading, day in and day out, and I enjoyed each reveal of a link between the two; it was rewarding and exciting. I found the plot as a whole to be fulfilling, even if others found it to be too weak, detail- or math-oriented, or lacking character development. I do fall in the crowd, though, of people who wish the ending was a bit improved, only because the bulk of the novel was such fun to read. The novel is very well-imagined, creative, well-written, and original. I recommend it for those who in general like WWII-related stories (e.g. Catch-22) or crypto math, obviously, but it's also interesting and entertaining if you know nothing about these things.Book Review: A thousand yawns for nine bucks.
Summary: 1 Stars
I decided to stop reading this novel at page 100, and now use it as a paperweight. It's the only way I can rationalize paying nine bucks for one of the most tedious, overwritten pieces of crap I've ever read.Book Review: Almost overwhelming
Summary: 5 Stars
A huge, messy, anarchic, mesmerizing, nearly overwhelming monster of a book following the intertwined lives of a dozen or more characters spanning half a century or so. Sure the nearly 1200 page brick could have been pared down a bit (maybe to a manageable 1000 pages even) but I'd have hated to loose even one of his great metaphors. Read it forgivingly and you'll have a blast.