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z_bookfluencer's review against another edition
4.0
"And no story ever truly ends as long as it is told." -Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
The Starless Sea was bibliomancy. It was poignant and had these beautiful passages of prose. The Starless Sea was notably written by a lover of literature for lovers of literature.
"Far beneath the surface of the earth, hidden from the sun and the moon, upon the shores of the Starless Sea, there is a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories." -Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
The Starless Sea has 6 parts, or as it is in the novel, VI Books and an afterward. Within and between the parts/books, there are interludes. The Starless Sea was told through stories and stories, rotating between the perspective of the main character Zachary, in the seemingly present timeline, and the perspectives of the other characters in broken timeline as well other notable forms of story.
"a paper star that has been unfolded and refolded
into a tiny unicorn but the unicorn remembers the time
when it was a star and an earlier time when it was part of
a book and sometimes the unicorn dreams of the time before
it was a book when it was a tree and the time even longer
before that when it was a different sort of star" -Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
The plot was nonlinear, and the breaks between the plotlines consisted of world building, magic, and meaningful nonsensical-esque prose.
The world building was told through the narration of the stories within the novel, most often during the breaks of Zachary's perspective, though that was not the only time the world building was present.
The symbols of The Starless Sea and magic felt unique and were interesting.
"Symbols are for interpretation, not definition." -Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
The Starless Sea is very open to interpretation; it is a story within stories that would read differently to each individual. The Starless Sea has very strong symbolism and could be taken as an allegory or simply a love story.
Answers given throughout The Starless Sea were unreliable or not fully formed when given. Everything that I wanted answered was answered upon reaching the conclusion of the story. I really enjoyed seeing how everything within The Starless Sea came together. The Starless Sea has a resolved ending.
Overall, The Starless Sea was an experience, and I'm satisfied with the time I afforded in reading it. I would recommend The Starless Sea to other readers who enjoy very whimsical and magical stories told through prose.
The Starless Sea was bibliomancy. It was poignant and had these beautiful passages of prose. The Starless Sea was notably written by a lover of literature for lovers of literature.
"Far beneath the surface of the earth, hidden from the sun and the moon, upon the shores of the Starless Sea, there is a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories." -Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
The Starless Sea has 6 parts, or as it is in the novel, VI Books and an afterward. Within and between the parts/books, there are interludes. The Starless Sea was told through stories and stories, rotating between the perspective of the main character Zachary, in the seemingly present timeline, and the perspectives of the other characters in broken timeline as well other notable forms of story.
"a paper star that has been unfolded and refolded
into a tiny unicorn but the unicorn remembers the time
when it was a star and an earlier time when it was part of
a book and sometimes the unicorn dreams of the time before
it was a book when it was a tree and the time even longer
before that when it was a different sort of star" -Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
The plot was nonlinear, and the breaks between the plotlines consisted of world building, magic, and meaningful nonsensical-esque prose.
The world building was told through the narration of the stories within the novel, most often during the breaks of Zachary's perspective, though that was not the only time the world building was present.
The symbols of The Starless Sea and magic felt unique and were interesting.
"Symbols are for interpretation, not definition." -Erin Morgenstern, The Starless Sea
The Starless Sea is very open to interpretation; it is a story within stories that would read differently to each individual. The Starless Sea has very strong symbolism and could be taken as an allegory or simply a love story.
Answers given throughout The Starless Sea were unreliable or not fully formed when given. Everything that I wanted answered was answered upon reaching the conclusion of the story. I really enjoyed seeing how everything within The Starless Sea came together. The Starless Sea has a resolved ending.
Overall, The Starless Sea was an experience, and I'm satisfied with the time I afforded in reading it. I would recommend The Starless Sea to other readers who enjoy very whimsical and magical stories told through prose.
brandyleigh_reads's review against another edition
3.0
It definitely had its slow moments but I liked the storyline so it was worth finishing.
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
So amazingly complex! As soon as I finished it, I had to read it again immediately. I've only ever needed to do that with the movies Fight Club and Inception.
elly_hinch's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
5.0
kstim's review against another edition
4.0
Unsurprisingly the world-building was absolutely phenomenal. The way Morgenstern is able to craft such a dreamlike, hyper-realistic world draws the reader in to what is a twisting story within a story. It is a maze of a novel and truly an exhilarating ride.
Unfortunately, it is very much slow to start. And the characters introduced fall a little flat and don't truly gain breath until the second half of the book. This is mostly a complaint about how Kat doesn't feature until the last interlude and how our dear Zachary seems to be more of a plot device rather than a fully fleshed out character. Not to say anything about how the romantic relationships just don't seem to have any teeth to them, any build-up. All other connections are where the book truly shines. Allegra & Dorian, Max & Ezra, Mirabel & Dorian, Eleanor & the Painter.
Not to say that I didn't enjoy every second of this book. The author once again was able to capture a truly unique, surreal experience with her writing. The Starless Sea weaves together a multitude of stories, tying the threads of one larger story into a beautifully written novel.
Unfortunately, it is very much slow to start. And the characters introduced fall a little flat and don't truly gain breath until the second half of the book. This is mostly a complaint about how Kat doesn't feature until the last interlude and how our dear Zachary seems to be more of a plot device rather than a fully fleshed out character. Not to say anything about how the romantic relationships just don't seem to have any teeth to them, any build-up. All other connections are where the book truly shines. Allegra & Dorian, Max & Ezra, Mirabel & Dorian, Eleanor & the Painter.
Not to say that I didn't enjoy every second of this book. The author once again was able to capture a truly unique, surreal experience with her writing. The Starless Sea weaves together a multitude of stories, tying the threads of one larger story into a beautifully written novel.
araskov's review against another edition
If I can be honest, I'm just not Morgenstern's audience. I struggled for ages through The Night Circus and now this. The concept is intriguing, it just doesn't captivate me.
rolypoliak's review against another edition
2.0
The setting was beautiful, and the writing was sometimes shockingly perfect in the description of feelings. However, I'm a plot and character development kind of guy, and the plot felt so slow and was interrupted too often by the necessary short stories. I felt thrown off, as if I couldn't enjoy any of the stories as much. I understand it was all connected, but the style wasn't for me.
aeckert's review against another edition
Got so tired of nothing happening. Also I made the mistake of listening to the audiobook instead of actually reading it - very bad idea for me and how I would need to engage with a book like this to enjoy it.
racheljiyoungshin's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
ag_berry's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0