Soft Power

by Matt Segur

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971825203
• ISBN13: 9780971825208
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Ghostweed Press
• Length: 238 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

Something to be savored

Soft Power appeals to mystery readers, understandably. But reader beware, this is no conventional mystery novel. You will not find a mustachioed detective peering through a magnifying glass or pointing at the butler between its covers.This is a book based around mysterious events, but isn't confined to the search for suspects. Instead you will find an accurate reflection of a familiar place (never mind whether you live in its set locale, it will be familiar to most of the western hemisphere and possibly the rest of the world), but affords us glimpses of darkness beneath, soaking through at the corners. That Segur accomplishes this effect so transparently, so delicately, is no small feat. Creating a subtle, unobtrusive yet realistically detailed habitat for a novel is not easy, and I've seen many authors fail at it repeatedly.As my meandering tastes have led me through the literary fiction universe, I've read too many books with "flawed" characters, and it seems to me most contemporary authors define "flawed" as "impossibly unlikable, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever." Segur's characters are legitimately, realistically flawed. They do not tug at your heartstrings, begging for pity, nor do they behave such that no human, no matter how saintly, could love them. They are, in fact, infinitely loveable. Each character is fully composed, with his or her own viewpoint, history, and personality realized fully. While nobody is perfect, everybody has purpose and meaning. His characters are not drawn to be cast aside without proper consideration. To some this book may seem alternately abrupt and meandering, possibly losing its plot along the way. But if one looks beyond the surface, if one reads for the pleasure of experience, not just to complete a task, one will find that this book never loses its purpose. This book is a small journey to be savored, and those predisposed to hurrying, moving the plot along to its final destination, should consider changing their habits.

Great Read!

Matt Segur's book is part murder mystery and part post-modern musings on the twentysomething crowd. The characters are three-dimensional, the writing is tight, the dialogue is believable, and his lucid descriptions of Chicago are reminiscent of works by Saul Bellow. Highly recommended!!

Great writing

I read this book in less than a week, which is twice as meaningful given that I am in grad school midterms. It was hard to put down. I read it on the train, walking down the street, and stayed up until 2 am to finish it. The everyday characters generate your interest because they are real people as opposed to the idealized characters that are traditionally presented in magazines, films and TV. In addition, the writing; visual and tactile culinary descriptions are great.

The city of Chicago never looked so tempting!

This book has kept me company for many a days when the weather here in Seattle has been less than cooperative. Segur paints a picture of Chicago that is bleak yet strangely attractive to the young struggling artists and workers. Stanley, the main character lives his life in Chicago on a day to day basis that exemplifies what many early 20's adults are like today in a city that is so giant. The constant feeling of being less than something great. A wonderful book for those that have lived in Chicago or still living there, and for those that have gone through their early 20's wandering. It has certainly made me think of moving back...