I didn’t say anyone was subpar, but there is a great difference between novels like Moby Dick and chick-lit novels. I’m just saying – a difference. It is inarguable that Moby Dick requires more brain power. It’s just a difference. If you inferred something else, well, that’s in your head – not mine.

My first comment (you obviously didn’t read the entire thread) stated, simply, a differing opinion. I only had to come and defend it when I was told that I was wrong — something you, in fact, argue against.

The Pop Culture Nerd is not wrong and I am not wrong. Some novels require more brain power than others. Some people like to read novels that require less brain power; some people like to read novels that require more; some people like to read both. It is merely a difference that I was pointing out.

It’s one thing to leave a comment and tell why you disagree; it is quite another thing to imply that because a blogger didn’t like a book YOU thought was brilliant, that said blogger is subpar. You see, it’s incredibly faulty logic to say “the blogger didn’t *love* this book; therefore, the blogger doesn’t like smart novels.”

Also, I’m curious as to what makes a “smart” novel, but that opens up quite a different can of worms.

Let me please just reiterate that this novel will delight anyone who is interested in literary fiction. The New Yorker named Obreht one of its coveted “20 under 40” best writers, a most unusual accomplishment for someone so young.

She’s also received glowing reviews from NPR, the Kansas City Star, the LA Times, the New York Times and (coming soon!) from The Raabe Review. Tea Obreht is bound for literary stardom and The Tiger’s Wife is the perfect vehicle to get her started on the way.

If you don’t like smart novels, you may want to stick to something that requires less brain power (such as the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society). But for those of us who do, The Tiger’s Wife is not to be missed.

Thanks for reading my review and for your insightful comment. I welcome different opinions here because that’s what makes book discussions interesting. By no means do I hold my opinion as the end-all judgment on anything. All the previous comments here are from regular readers of this site so I believe they do have an idea of my taste in books.

I agree with you that there are many fascinating characters in the book but like I said in the review, there are too many of them. I wanted to stay with certain ones more than others and hated being wrenched away from their stories. Perhaps, like you mentioned, the secondary characters should have been saved for their own novels.

I loved The Tiger’s Wife! I actually liked the backstories and thought the narrative lent itself well to good old-fashioned storytelling that keeps you wanting more. (Yann Martel didn’t have much dialogue in The Life of Pi, but the narrative was more than enough, as is Tea Obreht’s in The Tiger’s Wife. I’m not saying I loved The Life of Pi – just making a point because a lot of people did.)I’m a great fan of stories within stories, and The Tiger’s Wife is full of the kind that meet – or at least share a common denominator – in the end.

Additionally, I thought several of the characters could possibly hold their own as main characters; they had that much depth. The apothecary, the deathless man and his uncle (of whom I dreamed last night), the deaf-mute and her sister, Luka whose disappearance remains a puzzle I continue to ponder, the grandfather with his passions, the villagers and their myths – and the mysterious but beautiful (you know he is!) tiger…

Obreht has written what I call true contemporary literary fiction – not only hard to find, but even harder to do. If you enjoy Marquez, you’ll love this book. It’s my favorite novel of the year so far…hands down.