Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Almost sermonizing, struggles to contain the plot.

Seems like we (and Alvin) think that Alvin is headed round the bend - he's so busy trying to be 'good' and keep sane, he's heading nowhere. We keep losing the thread of why he's wandering and have to be reminded occasionally of his aim. OK there were some nice touches in there, Audobon & Balzac especially, but I thought the trial was a bit too glib - I reckon that the pro-slavery contingent would have just taken over and had a hanging there & then in real life. But, if Alvin really is the second coming - I guess that makes it all OK. Enough of picky - the book is a good, flowing read, as most of the Alvin series are - Card is a master story-teller, dragging you into the soul of his characters, willing you to keep reading....