Fiction

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs

  • Downloads：5645
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-12-02 06:51:39
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Lydia Millet
  • ISBN：1324021462
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
  • Download

Summary

A man named Gil walks from New York to Arizona to recover from a failed love。 After he arrives， new neighbors move into the glass-walled house next door， and his life begins to mesh with theirs。 In this warmly textured， drily funny， and philosophical account of Gil’s unexpected devotion to the family， Lydia Millet explores the uncanny territory where the self ends and community begins―what one person can do in a world beset by emergencies。 Dinosaurs is both sharp-edged and tender， an emotionally moving， intellectually resonant novel that asks， In the shadow of existential threat， where does hope live？

Download

Reviews

Ryan ，

Started off strong。 Felt everything was rushed to be tidied up by the end。 Felt it could have been much more。 Still， Millet's writing style made it a joy to read during the entire narrative。 Started off strong。 Felt everything was rushed to be tidied up by the end。 Felt it could have been much more。 Still， Millet's writing style made it a joy to read during the entire narrative。 。。。more

Sarah Swedberg ，

Wow。

Merry ，

Enjoyed this book even though the characters seemed a bit unrealistic。

E。j。 Levy ，

A marvel & delight—one of the best novels of 2022。 Tender， rending， funny， wise。

Jessie Weaver ，

This is the closest I've felt to reading My Name Is Lucy Barton。 It's meandering， nothing really happens， but it's an interesting character study and I liked it a lot。 This is the closest I've felt to reading My Name Is Lucy Barton。 It's meandering， nothing really happens， but it's an interesting character study and I liked it a lot。 。。。more

Katie ，

Dinosaurs is a much more straightforward book than many of Lydia Millet's have been in the past。 It focuses on Gil， who after his relationship falls apart decides to walk across the US from NY to start a new life in Arizona。 He buys a house sight unseen and embarks on his journey。 This is all within the first few pages of the book and is hardly about his walk at all。 Gil discovers that his new next door neighbors live in an actual glass house and he is brought into their lives quickly， initially Dinosaurs is a much more straightforward book than many of Lydia Millet's have been in the past。 It focuses on Gil， who after his relationship falls apart decides to walk across the US from NY to start a new life in Arizona。 He buys a house sight unseen and embarks on his journey。 This is all within the first few pages of the book and is hardly about his walk at all。 Gil discovers that his new next door neighbors live in an actual glass house and he is brought into their lives quickly， initially becoming the new bff of their young son。 I enjoyed this book a lot， even though it is not really about a whole lot。 Lydia Millet's writing is good and her books are always interesting。 。。。more

Elena ，

It's no Children's Bible， which is probably for the best because I am not sure I can get wrecked from a book like that again。 But I am obsessed with her style of narration。 It's no Children's Bible， which is probably for the best because I am not sure I can get wrecked from a book like that again。 But I am obsessed with her style of narration。 。。。more

Karen ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I found this book sad。 Gil's friend dies。 His girlfriend left him。 His family is all dead。 He lives beside a therapist， but doesn't see one for himself。 May be helpful for him。 He seems to feel guilty about his family money。 Does stand up for the birds and a neighborhood kid at the end。 I found this book sad。 Gil's friend dies。 His girlfriend left him。 His family is all dead。 He lives beside a therapist， but doesn't see one for himself。 May be helpful for him。 He seems to feel guilty about his family money。 Does stand up for the birds and a neighborhood kid at the end。 。。。more

Abby ，

trust me i also did not want to love a book about a rich white man。 but i can’t lie………。。 i thought this was good

Mary ，

A beautiful examination of friendship--and birds。

David Waltner-Toews ，

I read it in a day。 Beautiful writing。 She has a way of capturing complex national & international issues （politics， climate change， environmental destruction， despair， hope） in the personal， local， suburban。 A refreshing respite from the perverse Twitterverse。

Maria Burnett ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This book was so enjoyable to me。 I loved Gil and how he moved through the world attempting to do as much good as he could。 I think my five stars might be partially because I haven’t read a book with a positive male character in it in so long。 A refreshing slice of life story about a lonely man who finds family in a new atmosphere。

Giovanna Forsyth ，

Just a delightful piece of literary fiction。 Well paced and positive。

Jess Witkins ，

A short， quick read that's about humans humaning。 It took me a minute to settle in to the story at first， but once I did， I found it wholesome， charming， and community-driven。 It's essentially the story of one man's life， nothing extraordinary happens， but it's grounded in relationships。 It's a book about people and how they come in and out of our lives， and how we choose either break or strengthen those relationships。 Would make for a good discussion book。 Very thoughtful。 A short， quick read that's about humans humaning。 It took me a minute to settle in to the story at first， but once I did， I found it wholesome， charming， and community-driven。 It's essentially the story of one man's life， nothing extraordinary happens， but it's grounded in relationships。 It's a book about people and how they come in and out of our lives， and how we choose either break or strengthen those relationships。 Would make for a good discussion book。 Very thoughtful。 。。。more

Josiecellone ，

You know when you know you’ll love a book from the first line？ When an author writes in a voice that just synchs with your own rhythms？ I started reading Dinosaurs last night and woke up twice during the night to read more—I found myself dreaming about the characters like they were friends or family members—and woke up eager to get to the end。 It’s not that there’s some huge compelling mystery or love story or drama。 It’s just one man’s life and the complicated web of people we encounter， and I You know when you know you’ll love a book from the first line？ When an author writes in a voice that just synchs with your own rhythms？ I started reading Dinosaurs last night and woke up twice during the night to read more—I found myself dreaming about the characters like they were friends or family members—and woke up eager to get to the end。 It’s not that there’s some huge compelling mystery or love story or drama。 It’s just one man’s life and the complicated web of people we encounter， and I guess I felt like if he could figure it out， who should we love， why do we hurt people， what do we deserve， what do we owe， maybe I have a chance too。 。。。more

Jan ，

As she did in A Children’s Bible， Lydia Millet uses clear prose to tell a story of individual psychology， family， community and the earth’s fragile ecosystem， all in just a few hundred pages。

Lisa ，

3。25

Melissa ，

DINOSAURS by Lydia Millet and read beautifully by Paul Heitsch was an unexpected pleasure of a book。Gil is a wealthy man who travels to his new home in Phoenix by walking there from his home in NYC。 This is a fascinating minor point that explores his search for the need to earn his value in society。 He discovers that his neighbor home has a glass wall that when it becomes occupied， is by necessity a focal point。 Gil's relationship with this family opens him up in ways that he has not experienced DINOSAURS by Lydia Millet and read beautifully by Paul Heitsch was an unexpected pleasure of a book。Gil is a wealthy man who travels to his new home in Phoenix by walking there from his home in NYC。 This is a fascinating minor point that explores his search for the need to earn his value in society。 He discovers that his neighbor home has a glass wall that when it becomes occupied， is by necessity a focal point。 Gil's relationship with this family opens him up in ways that he has not experienced。Most of the chapters explore these deepening self revelations while connecting Gil to the ever expanding awareness of all the birds in his space。 This growing attachment is sharpened when birds are being killed for no reason。 This evil act rubs against the continual quest Gil pursues in finding a positive role in the world。I didn't really want to like this story since it centered around a privileged man。 What I found， which was good for me， is a reminder that not everyone fits a stereotype， and that stories can be found everywhere。 Gil grew on me and I found his path of discovery to be deeper than I presumed it would be。 The complexity of how friendships can show us how to grow and love and be nutured was a surprising balm。 The mystery of the birds revealed an arc that I was very moved by。 There were still some things that I may have had issue with as far as Gil or his neighbors went， but this felt like a story that challenges us to find those small ways to make a difference， and it will matter。 We matter to each other， or we should。 。。。more

Cecil ，

A very good novel about relationships and feelings， if you are into that kind of stuff。 I’m not into that kind of stuff。 I did very much like the fact that， despite it being a plot point that the protagonist walked from NY to AZ， the walk itself is barely mentioned and， when it is mentioned， is always in passing。

Hailey Brady ，

“So you had no beginning。 And you would never end。”i love good people。no plot— just a life。

Bloomingdale Public Library ，

Soon Har says: I really liked Lydia Millet's "A Children's Bible;" it was one of those deceptively easy-to-read books that belied a dark story。 Her writing had a sly humor that added to the book's ominous undertone。 "Dinosaurs" is even 'easier' to read; the characters speak in clipped sentences and （spoiler alert） nothing major really happens。 Except， of course， something does; by the end of the story the protagonist Gil has experienced a transformative experience although we don't know how he w Soon Har says: I really liked Lydia Millet's "A Children's Bible;" it was one of those deceptively easy-to-read books that belied a dark story。 Her writing had a sly humor that added to the book's ominous undertone。 "Dinosaurs" is even 'easier' to read; the characters speak in clipped sentences and （spoiler alert） nothing major really happens。 Except， of course， something does; by the end of the story the protagonist Gil has experienced a transformative experience although we don't know how he will change his life going forward。 Gil， a 45-year-old independently wealthy white man with a history of losses， has moved to Arizona for a fresh start。 He becomes close to his neighbors， another upper-middle class white family of a beautiful couple with a tween son and a teenage daughter。 They share a series of incidents， some more serious than others。 Meanwhile Gil is noticing the birds in his neighborhood and learning about how they are descended from dinosaurs。 He becomes friends with the tween son next door。A newspaper reviewer wondered why we should care about any of these people， especially during these times in our country and the world。 I think Gil is basically a decent human being trying to make his way in life doing his best with what he has and many of us -- even though not male or white or wealthy -- can relate to his journey。 That is Millet's skill。 Like us， Gil is looking for love， connection and community。 How he finds it is a story that is not difficult to enjoy。 。。。more

Robert Elliot ，

An elegant story exploring interpersonal relationships and the human connection to the natural world。 A somewhat simple plot， but its beautiful and engaging writing that parallels biology with human emotion kept me coming back for more。 Highly recommend。

George ，

An engaging， gentle， light short novel about Gil， an independent wealthy 45 year old man。 After his partner left him， Gil decides to make a fresh start， walking from New York to Phoenix， Arizona。 In Phoenix， he makes friends with his next door neighbours， Ardis and Ted， and their son， Tom。The author covers a number of issues including bullying， domestic violence， animal cruelty， friendships and trust。 I enjoyed this novel， though Gil is generally ‘too good’。 He is a loner who doesn’t work to mak An engaging， gentle， light short novel about Gil， an independent wealthy 45 year old man。 After his partner left him， Gil decides to make a fresh start， walking from New York to Phoenix， Arizona。 In Phoenix， he makes friends with his next door neighbours， Ardis and Ted， and their son， Tom。The author covers a number of issues including bullying， domestic violence， animal cruelty， friendships and trust。 I enjoyed this novel， though Gil is generally ‘too good’。 He is a loner who doesn’t work to make money。 Instead， he joins voluntary organizations。This book was first published in 2022。 。。。more

Cindy H。 ，

Roundup 3。5 Audio 4 stars#tob23 long list - After a breakup， Gil an independently wealthy New Yorker leaves the city and walks his way to Phoenix to begin a quiet life in the desert。 Instead he becomes enmeshed with his neighbors & rural community life。 This book lacks BIG moments but it’s small everyday life experiences creates BIG impacts。 A definite pick！ I’d like to see this book move on to the next round。

Chad ，

Marvelous， quick read filled with curious， imperfect characters。

Mark Valentine ，

I found myself attached to the characters， especially Gil。 For plot， read something else but for characterization and dialogue， Millet is a master。 The bird theme， the break-up and grief theme， the torture of affairs theme， the bullying theme--all the themes came together in the final pages where the man who lives next to the glass house leans into a chola cactus while eavesdropping the window-walled house。

Heather Haskins ，

I don’t know what the book was about。 Took me forever to figure out the Gil was out main protagonist。 Too many characters， not enough conflict。 Not my jam

Jenny Yates ，

This is a character study， a portrait of a man named Gil who is very disconnected from the rest of the world。 The recurring theme is that birds managed to evolve from dinosaurs， so there are no true evolutionary dead ends。 And Gil too is evolving。 I loved Millet’s surreal and apocalyptic book A Children’s Bible， but didn’t feel the same connection to this book。 The sentences tend to be short， sometimes just a word or two， and there are many one-sentence paragraphs， which give the book a choppy f This is a character study， a portrait of a man named Gil who is very disconnected from the rest of the world。 The recurring theme is that birds managed to evolve from dinosaurs， so there are no true evolutionary dead ends。 And Gil too is evolving。 I loved Millet’s surreal and apocalyptic book A Children’s Bible， but didn’t feel the same connection to this book。 The sentences tend to be short， sometimes just a word or two， and there are many one-sentence paragraphs， which give the book a choppy feel。 The point of view throughout the book is Gil’s， and it's hard to feel attached to someone who is so detached from the world in general。 The plot is pretty sparse。 Gil is a young white man – nice， modest， unassuming， non-committal - who has been independently wealthy since he was a child， and has no living relatives。 He gets involved with a cold woman， Lane， and after she sleeps with someone else， he leaves New York City。 He decides to walk to Arizona， just to see if he can， although this journey is mostly described in conversations later on。 He settles there， and soon afterwards， a family moves into a glass-walled house next door to his。 Gil gets involved with the family， being helpful as he always is， playing catch with the son， Tom。 He does volunteer work at a woman’s shelter。 And he tries to figure out who is killing birds in his neighborhood。 So not much happens， but gradually， the reader sees Gil opening up just a little， and then just a little more。 He forms a healthier relationship with a woman。 He finds the bird-killer。 He has a literal run-in with a cactus， and the pain requires drugs which make him high and give him some new insights。 Occasionally there’s some tongue-in-cheek humor， and the best writing is in the dialogues between the various characters。 Gil is a pleasant， self-aware， meditative guy， and would probably make a great friend。 As a book character， he’s definitely low-key。 。。。more

Christa ，

Loved this so much！ Didn’t want it to end

Gail ，

did not expect to be so endeared by this one

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Dinosaurs

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Dinosaurs&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Dinosaurs&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0