Funny wrassle with the meaning of life. I love the tunic wearing modernity shunning main character. Called to my folk nerd tendencies and plucked my heartstrings. Very witty. ( )

It's interesting to read the other reviews on this; a lot of people really hated it, despite the fact that it is a beautifully written book. I loved it. It reminded me of Confederacy of Dunces, with the same type of main character: useless in modern society, probably impossible to live with, fascinated with medieval society. Burt Hecker is person I wouldn't like at all in real life, but can't help really liking while I'm in his head. All Shall Be Well shares Confederacy of Dunces' tone of heartbreaking black humor, as well. The scenes with Burt's family are unforgettable - especially since we only see them from Burt's point of view. It is clear that he and the other characters will never truly understand each other, but remain deeply connected.

I had to subtract a star for the terrible title, but added it back for the "Confraternity of Times Lost Regained" (CTLR), a medieval reenactment society. Best name ever.

What is a confraternity, anyway? ( )

A very well-written book about monumentally selfish, immature, and irresponsible people fighting with each other over imagined slights that suddenly became real ones. Worth reading for the gorgeous writing style, but you're going to end up wanting to punch every character repeatedly (except, possibly, for the lawyer). ( )

I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either. I could give it one and a half stars, just for not being The Inheritance of Loss. ( )

I loved Part 2 of this book, when we were exploring Burt's flawed relationships with his family, the meeting and courtship of his wife, the coping with the even-then-apparent hatred and bitterness of his eventual mother-in-law, all in the context of his own foibles and obsessions. The first part had laid out those obsessions, Burt's interest in medieval re-enactment and the distancing effect on his family, but I never really felt invested in any of them. Part 2 is where Burt becomes emotionally three-dimensional, but by then, I wasn't sure I cared at all about him.

Maybe if I'd read this at a different time I'd have loved it. For now? Eh. Good but not great. ( )