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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Like Annihilation but set on a mountain and more direct in its explanations of what is going on.
The mountain climbing aspect of it is both secondary to the plot and also not particularly well done. For example, it seems that nobody has heard of crampons in the book or ice axes. A fun and easy read but you could also get the same effect by rereading Annihilation and Into Thin Air back to back.
The mountain climbing aspect of it is both secondary to the plot and also not particularly well done. For example, it seems that nobody has heard of crampons in the book or ice axes. A fun and easy read but you could also get the same effect by rereading Annihilation and Into Thin Air back to back.
Simplified summary:
When a mountain suddenly appears in the middle of the ocean, a team of experts are assembled for an expedition.
Opening lines:
My brother disappeared twenty-nine years ago. It didn't happen on a specific day, or even during a specific month. The process was a slow drifting - a realization that grew in me like a poison, a splinter at the stem of my brain.
Review:
This book felt like it was written specifically for me. It had literally everything I want. A bunch of nerds in their field mysteriously brought together? Check. Weird biological, physical, and geological phenomena? Check. Survival on a mountain whilst being plagued by psychological and physical torment? Check. I could go on for a while. A couple of minor (for me) gripes - this did not need to be told in an epistolary style, it could have been just straight first person, and the motivation of assembling the team is a trope that I dislike. Luckily, neither of these things really impact the story. I loved this book and the ending was just *chef's kiss* super satisfying.
When a mountain suddenly appears in the middle of the ocean, a team of experts are assembled for an expedition.
Opening lines:
My brother disappeared twenty-nine years ago. It didn't happen on a specific day, or even during a specific month. The process was a slow drifting - a realization that grew in me like a poison, a splinter at the stem of my brain.
Review:
This book felt like it was written specifically for me. It had literally everything I want. A bunch of nerds in their field mysteriously brought together? Check. Weird biological, physical, and geological phenomena? Check. Survival on a mountain whilst being plagued by psychological and physical torment? Check. I could go on for a while. A couple of minor (for me) gripes - this did not need to be told in an epistolary style, it could have been just straight first person, and the motivation of assembling the team is a trope that I dislike. Luckily, neither of these things really impact the story. I loved this book and the ending was just *chef's kiss* super satisfying.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
7.5/10. Interesting premise and engaging throughout, but the climax felt a bit cheap and unsatisfactory.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In the Mountains of Madness, only more exciting.
One point that strained my suspension of disbelief - if I was a scientist flown in to the base camp of a mountain that is twice the size of the tallest mountain on Earth and was told that I would need to ascend to the peak of said mountain, I'd tell them to fly me back home and get someone else. Even with a guide, don't you have to train for such a thing? Don't people die all the time trying to get to the top of Everest? I am definitely not going to make it to the top.
One point that strained my suspension of disbelief - if I was a scientist flown in to the base camp of a mountain that is twice the size of the tallest mountain on Earth and was told that I would need to ascend to the peak of said mountain, I'd tell them to fly me back home and get someone else. Even with a guide, don't you have to train for such a thing? Don't people die all the time trying to get to the top of Everest? I am definitely not going to make it to the top.
A horribly dull and utterly eye rolling attempt at a novel.
A more classic sci-fi “what is the meaning of life” story written in an interesting, fresh way. Some of the themes I didn’t jive with but over all a fun read.