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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
A guy whose father is a mountain and whose mother is a washing machine (and no, this is not metaphorical, that's really what they are, and one of his brothers really is an island and not in the John Donne way) gets involved with a winged girl and tries to bring wireless connectivity to Toronto while battling his murderous dead brother.
I am not making this up.
I am not making this up.
What a weird ass book... I didn't really expect the end. So that was interesting. I feel like I never really got to know the characters, there didn't feel like there was any significant depth.
The begining of the book only held my attention because I was going through life stuff and it was a fine distraction. The magical elements of Allen's family was what predominantly made me stay. However, the back and forth between the two storylines was distracting and disjointed. That only got worse when towards the end a story Allen was written was added with no distinction between the actual narrative.
Hm, I don't know... I also feel like there were many things unresolved but I imagine that was done on purpose? I have no idea but I don't think I would ever read another of Doctorow's books if this is his best work. It just seemed like a mess even though there were undeniably things I did enjoy about it. I guess it leaves me somewhere between a 2-3 star rating.
The begining of the book only held my attention because I was going through life stuff and it was a fine distraction. The magical elements of Allen's family was what predominantly made me stay. However, the back and forth between the two storylines was distracting and disjointed. That only got worse when towards the end a story Allen was written was added with no distinction between the actual narrative.
Hm, I don't know... I also feel like there were many things unresolved but I imagine that was done on purpose? I have no idea but I don't think I would ever read another of Doctorow's books if this is his best work. It just seemed like a mess even though there were undeniably things I did enjoy about it. I guess it leaves me somewhere between a 2-3 star rating.
The cover copy says that the main character's father is a mountain and his mother is a washing machine. Of his brothers, three function as nesting dolls and a fourth is an island. These are not metaphors. The story is pretty surreal, but engrossing--the nesting-doll brothers have been taken and likely killed by another brother, one who has always demonstrated great capacity for cruelty and was killed in childhood. Throw in a woman with wings, and you've got the makings of a pretty trippy story.
It's not quite enough story to fill a book, though, and Doctorow fills it out with a secondary story--the main character is helping a friend set up a "mesh net"--mounting wireless access points all over downtown to provide free wireless internet. The two stories really don't have a lot to do with each other, and it ends up feeling almost like the author had two novellas in his head and decided to jam them together. The writing is pretty strong (except in the dialogue), and it was an enjoyable book all around. It just didn't come together as well as I'd like.
It's not quite enough story to fill a book, though, and Doctorow fills it out with a secondary story--the main character is helping a friend set up a "mesh net"--mounting wireless access points all over downtown to provide free wireless internet. The two stories really don't have a lot to do with each other, and it ends up feeling almost like the author had two novellas in his head and decided to jam them together. The writing is pretty strong (except in the dialogue), and it was an enjoyable book all around. It just didn't come together as well as I'd like.
I struggled with choosing between 3 and 4 stars, but landed on 4 because of how impressive it is that Doctorow pulled off something this... weird.
‘Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town’ is in mainly ways a wonderfully strange book, filled with unexplained magic, radical technology and a sentient mountain. They characters names change throughout the book, keeping the reader on their toes (and maybe a little confused.) There are also several timelines and Doctorow is not afraid to jump around quite a bit.
All in all it was a fun read despite not being my absolute favorite. It’s interesting to see some of Doctorow’s early work before he (in my opinion) really honed his strengths. It isn’t always pretty but it’s fun to watch a good author experiment!
‘Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town’ is in mainly ways a wonderfully strange book, filled with unexplained magic, radical technology and a sentient mountain. They characters names change throughout the book, keeping the reader on their toes (and maybe a little confused.) There are also several timelines and Doctorow is not afraid to jump around quite a bit.
All in all it was a fun read despite not being my absolute favorite. It’s interesting to see some of Doctorow’s early work before he (in my opinion) really honed his strengths. It isn’t always pretty but it’s fun to watch a good author experiment!
Defies easy categorization. Reminds me of Neil Gaiman, Tim Powers, even PKD a bit.
I didn't think I was going to like it at first, but it grew on me.
Note you can download this for free at http://craphound.com/someone/.
I didn't think I was going to like it at first, but it grew on me.
Note you can download this for free at http://craphound.com/someone/.
At first I really didn't like the main character, but as the book went on I realized that part of what I didn't like about him was that he was so controlling, but in a polite sort of creepy way. However, as the book progressed, and Alan's past story unfolds you begin to understand why he is who/what he is. Strange story, lots of interesting characters, and I have no good way to say exactly what I liked, but a fasinating quirky love story in the end.
strange and beautiful but kept me too off balance. i’m too hungry with want for understanding in all things to be so patient kind as is asked... did not make me fear govt surveillance (pro) but did compound my existing feeling of being just left of human (con) also somehow empathized with and revolved around the aforementioned need to understand without actually keeping much care for it, i found. talked about it instead of to it. would not look me in the eyes but left me outside my center of gravity trying to see anyway... lovely characters but i am as ever inclined so much more to fall in love with worldbuilding and worlds and their rules and their intricacies... adrien and i are kindred souls in this manner i feel. interesting to me this book about him is not something written much with him in mind in that way, yes?
read in one day, june 2 2020, while listening to album “it’s a derevolution, baby” by artist the derevolutions.
archie should have more respect for good t-shirts. favorite character: kurt! VERY much enjoyed the names in this book (as someone who thinks about names quite a bit). goodnight!
read in one day, june 2 2020, while listening to album “it’s a derevolution, baby” by artist the derevolutions.
archie should have more respect for good t-shirts. favorite character: kurt! VERY much enjoyed the names in this book (as someone who thinks about names quite a bit). goodnight!
This is a rather quirky read, blending the typical techy subject matter of Doctorow with a rather fantastical family tree. I've been to Kensington Market, so it was fun to picture the scenery.
Reminds me of how I felt after leaving the movie "Unbreakable". There were interesting ideas and fantasy elements, but things didn't quite gel, and the reveal happens way the hell too late so I just end up thinking, "Well, that happened," while not really feeling much emotional connection to it.