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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My only complaint is that it felt like the book ended just when the story was picking up and getting good! Maybe she's setting up for a sequel, but the ending seemed very abrupt.
There are some interesting points in here but my main issue is that there's no real focus. The author seems to be writing about everything all at once, which makes a lot of the book quite boring.
Others have pointed out the ridiculousness of a translator finding work and fame by just choosing an obscure book to translate. Add to that a belief that German and Russian would somehow be extremely difficult languages with very few translators....
The story of the Center is an interesting premise but in the end it turned into a pretty bland book.
Others have pointed out the ridiculousness of a translator finding work and fame by just choosing an obscure book to translate. Add to that a belief that German and Russian would somehow be extremely difficult languages with very few translators....
The story of the Center is an interesting premise but in the end it turned into a pretty bland book.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rouge for the duolingo girlies
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Wow. So this started off really strong for me. I was pretty bored with the love interest intro but ok, this is setting the scene, we are getting set up. Then the Centre comes into play! How intriguing, this place is WEIRD! Oh....wait....what....Now we are focused on MC's drama with her friend at home. Oh but she's still in contact with Centre friend, oh ok! Something juciy is coming! Oh...no...just more about MC's life. Ok. Now a bunch of back and forth. MC meanders a whole lot and I am so sick of hearing about boy at this point. Ok, I think MC is just terrible. Reveal, uncomfortable interaction, meandering, done. hmm. Definitely saw that as the reveal, disappointed there wasn't more to it and I was SO BORED being in MC's head after so long.
2.5 stars
This sadly did not work for me.
The premise and what the author attempted (I'm assuming) to do really hit. And there were glimmers throughout that got me thinking this could be a real win. There are truly very interesting ideas around language, translation, general communication, class, race, sexuality, and many other ethical and moral dilemmas presented here. But that's the thing, they're simply presented. Put on the table and not fully explored. Everything felt like box checking without actually earning the conversation. Sometimes more frustratingly than others.
The "mystery" is hardly that. The very blatant clues are left loud and clear from almost the beginning that when the reveal comes, we're like, "yeah, duh, and?" What was more frustrating was the reveal didn't lead to any significant change in the MC or her path. It felt oddly nonconsequential which didn't really fit with the character we had grown to know.
And lastly, while this was rather beautifully written and flowed well, the author decided to end on a note that leaves you with a big ole "huh?". The entire novel was rather straight forward and didn't leave too much, if anything, up to the imagination, taking away any real tension, then post-"reveal" we have tons of unanswered questions that feel lazy and forgetful, not open-ended and ambiguous.
All in all, I was sad this didn't work out. I was really excited and saw so many others really love this. I would be willing to pick up from this author again, though. Maybe that will hit better.
This sadly did not work for me.
The premise and what the author attempted (I'm assuming) to do really hit. And there were glimmers throughout that got me thinking this could be a real win. There are truly very interesting ideas around language, translation, general communication, class, race, sexuality, and many other ethical and moral dilemmas presented here. But that's the thing, they're simply presented. Put on the table and not fully explored. Everything felt like box checking without actually earning the conversation. Sometimes more frustratingly than others.
The "mystery" is hardly that. The very blatant clues are left loud and clear from almost the beginning that when the reveal comes, we're like, "yeah, duh, and?" What was more frustrating was the reveal didn't lead to any significant change in the MC or her path. It felt oddly nonconsequential which didn't really fit with the character we had grown to know.
And lastly, while this was rather beautifully written and flowed well, the author decided to end on a note that leaves you with a big ole "huh?". The entire novel was rather straight forward and didn't leave too much, if anything, up to the imagination, taking away any real tension, then post-"reveal" we have tons of unanswered questions that feel lazy and forgetful, not open-ended and ambiguous.
All in all, I was sad this didn't work out. I was really excited and saw so many others really love this. I would be willing to pick up from this author again, though. Maybe that will hit better.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The concept is stronger than the execution. It was a fast read that I was engaged in, but the "answers" felt like a letdown and the ending felt quite abrupt. I also didn't find the main character very likeable or relatable.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt like this book was a conglomeration of issues the author wanted to talk about without any real story being told.