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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brilliant!
It took about 150 pages for me to get used to the style of the story but the further I read, the more of a fan I became. I loved our main character who is a very unlikely hero but yet he learns to take the steers and becomes someone very rootable as the story progresses. The cast of characters is diverse and provides endless sources of both entertainment and suspense. The stakes go from low of a personal quest to high and higher and it's such an thrilling adventure.
I have a million questions and three books to go so I couldn't be more excited!
It took about 150 pages for me to get used to the style of the story but the further I read, the more of a fan I became. I loved our main character who is a very unlikely hero but yet he learns to take the steers and becomes someone very rootable as the story progresses. The cast of characters is diverse and provides endless sources of both entertainment and suspense. The stakes go from low of a personal quest to high and higher and it's such an thrilling adventure.
I have a million questions and three books to go so I couldn't be more excited!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I waited too long to write this and now you're going to get my thoughts as I gaze back across the sands of time to a younger, more innocent me.
Jk, my memory when it comes to books is a thousand times better than my own life, and as for my innocence...
This was another Amit recommendation. I should make a new shelf for books that he shoves my way. When he pitched the idea to me it really did sound intriguing. I am very familiar with the Tower of Bable story and the thought of a book climbing a more modern version sounded fun.
Fun. Yeah.
When it came to looking at how evil was represented this book didn't disappoint. The level that disturbed me the most was The Parlor. In all the ones that we visited in this first book, I felt like this one was the most evil, because at least in the other ones you knew that they knew that they were evil. Sure they felt justified, but not like The Parlor. Reality was so twisted there... that they could perform abominations and be alright with it because they believed they were playing a role in a play. A never-ending play. And if it is a play there are no consequences. I ran through that last interaction between Senlin and jerk guy a hundred times in my head, what he could have said in that moment when jerk guy broke character. I know why he didn't - he was in shock. I was too.
It honestly reminded me of what I heard once about the two ways Satan tries to get people. The first one is to convince them to follow him, just your straight-up "go do bad things because you like worshiping me!" The second is to get people to believe that he doesn't exist. Because if he isn't real, then reality is just what you make of it. There is no accountability - there is nothing except how you view the world, and that can be whatever you want.
There is no right, there is no wrong - there is only the play.
I loved Senlin. I loved his uber-introverted personality. I love his undying complete hopeless utter devotion to his wife. How no one would believe who knew him socially or professionally that he was capable of the emotional vulnerability needed to court her, but then you get these flashbacks between him and her and you just melt. And then you understand why he would stop at nothing to find her. The scene at the train, with the kite, and then the piano (and not just the hardcore making out at the end) - they just show his devotion to her.
And everything I saw from the flashbacks said the same thing about how she felt for him. I keep thinking I have "proof" - but at the same time afraid that I'm just seeing what I want to see. I don't actually know what is going to happen, the rest aren't out yet and Amit hasn't finished them to make sure the rest of the series is "Marinda proof", but I have to believe that she is still true to him.
Because I freaked out when Amit spoiled the ending and told me that he didn't find her in this one. They have to be ok, they have to end up together - ug. I hate you all and everyone in the world because I am insecure in my need to have relationships work out in books. I know there are others out there like me, but I wish I was more academic and not so - not so me. Which sounds so dumb. Maybe it is just horrible being held hostage by these authors, to constantly live in fear. Maybe that's what I really want - to just be free to enjoy books no matter what happens.
But that sounds just as dumb. What's the point in reading if it doesn't become a part of me, and being afraid of having your flesh melt off is a perfectly reasonable fear to have. So now the question becomes, WHY WOULD I PUT MYSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE MY SKIN MIGHT MELT OFF?!?!
The answer is obvious. So obviously I'm not even going to tell you.
The last chapter when he was fighting them higher than any of his kites was epic. I really hope they end up together so this series is safe to read.
Amit just started playing the piano. It's the perfect backdrop to this response. :)
Jk, my memory when it comes to books is a thousand times better than my own life, and as for my innocence...
This was another Amit recommendation. I should make a new shelf for books that he shoves my way. When he pitched the idea to me it really did sound intriguing. I am very familiar with the Tower of Bable story and the thought of a book climbing a more modern version sounded fun.
Fun. Yeah.
When it came to looking at how evil was represented this book didn't disappoint. The level that disturbed me the most was The Parlor. In all the ones that we visited in this first book, I felt like this one was the most evil, because at least in the other ones you knew that they knew that they were evil. Sure they felt justified, but not like The Parlor. Reality was so twisted there... that they could perform abominations and be alright with it because they believed they were playing a role in a play. A never-ending play. And if it is a play there are no consequences. I ran through that last interaction between Senlin and jerk guy a hundred times in my head, what he could have said in that moment when jerk guy broke character. I know why he didn't - he was in shock. I was too.
It honestly reminded me of what I heard once about the two ways Satan tries to get people. The first one is to convince them to follow him, just your straight-up "go do bad things because you like worshiping me!" The second is to get people to believe that he doesn't exist. Because if he isn't real, then reality is just what you make of it. There is no accountability - there is nothing except how you view the world, and that can be whatever you want.
There is no right, there is no wrong - there is only the play.
I loved Senlin. I loved his uber-introverted personality. I love his undying complete hopeless utter devotion to his wife. How no one would believe who knew him socially or professionally that he was capable of the emotional vulnerability needed to court her, but then you get these flashbacks between him and her and you just melt. And then you understand why he would stop at nothing to find her. The scene at the train, with the kite, and then the piano (and not just the hardcore making out at the end) - they just show his devotion to her.
And everything I saw from the flashbacks said the same thing about how she felt for him. I keep thinking I have "proof" - but at the same time afraid that I'm just seeing what I want to see. I don't actually know what is going to happen, the rest aren't out yet and Amit hasn't finished them to make sure the rest of the series is "Marinda proof", but I have to believe that she is still true to him.
Because I freaked out when Amit spoiled the ending and told me that he didn't find her in this one. They have to be ok, they have to end up together - ug. I hate you all and everyone in the world because I am insecure in my need to have relationships work out in books. I know there are others out there like me, but I wish I was more academic and not so - not so me. Which sounds so dumb. Maybe it is just horrible being held hostage by these authors, to constantly live in fear. Maybe that's what I really want - to just be free to enjoy books no matter what happens.
But that sounds just as dumb. What's the point in reading if it doesn't become a part of me, and being afraid of having your flesh melt off is a perfectly reasonable fear to have. So now the question becomes, WHY WOULD I PUT MYSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE MY SKIN MIGHT MELT OFF?!?!
The answer is obvious. So obviously I'm not even going to tell you.
The last chapter when he was fighting them higher than any of his kites was epic. I really hope they end up together so this series is safe to read.
Amit just started playing the piano. It's the perfect backdrop to this response. :)
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF about 70%
the first 1/3 was amazing, but then it just kept going
the first 1/3 was amazing, but then it just kept going
medium-paced
I can't say enough about this book! Everything about it, the world-building, the prose, the characters, are all amazing and very well thought out.
Read this book! You won't be disappointed.
Read this book! You won't be disappointed.
3.5 took me forever to read, not sure why but I did really enjoy it.