 In another review in The New York Times John Leonard wrote that while the book has its strong points , " some wit , a catholic disdain , multiplicity of character and a South American swamp @-@ life that terrifies " , its weaknesses are that " the characters are really ideas , ... the symbols clash and there are too many echoes of better books by Kafka and Proust " . But Leonard 's biggest criticism of the book was Hitler 's speech , which he called " obscene " , and Steiner 's decision to end the book at that point , which Leonard said " not only denies the power of art to arrange and transcend , but ... makes me sick to my stomach . " 
 In another review in The New York Times John Leonard wrote that while the book <a href='got' title='1'><mark>has</mark></a> its strong points , " some wit , a catholic disdain , multiplicity of character and a South American swamp @-@ life <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>terrifies</mark></a> " , its weaknesses are that " the characters are really ideas , ... the symbols clash and <a href='dey_it' title='4'><mark>there</mark></a> are too many echoes of better books by Kafka and Proust " . But Leonard <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>biggest criticism of the book was Hitler <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>speech , which he called " obscene " , and Steiner <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>decision to end the book at that point , which Leonard said " not only <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>denies</mark></a> the power of art to arrange and transcend , but ... <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>makes</mark></a> me sick to my stomach . " 
In another review in da New York Times John Leonard wrote that while tdabook got its strong points , " some wit , a catholic disdain , multiplicity of character and a South American swamp @-@ life terrify " , its weaknesses are dat " the characters are really ideas , ... thdaymbols clash and it is too many echoes of betta books by Kafka and Proust " . But Leonard  biggest criticism of thedaok was Hitler  speech , which he called " obscene " , and Steiner  decision to end the book at that point , which Leonard said " not only deny the power of art to arrange and transcend , but ... make me sick to mah stomach . "