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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
A quirky, interesting read with lots of intentional confusion. The author's tone and narrative style suited the half-reality half-magic atmosphere well. The two main characters were developed and their relationship was believable. I also enjoyed the open ending; sometimes I appreciate when things aren't wrapped up in a nice little bow. Unfortunately, I found some of the twists predictable and overall plot a bit far-fetched, even for me. Therefore- three stars!
It says a lot about a book when you dread coming back to it, even if you keep hoping "maybe it's growing on me?"
Maybe the characters will stop being so weird to each other?
Maybe a plot will finally take shape?
Maybe the writing will stop trying so hard?
Maybe the narrator can save the day? (For what it's worth, she was the best part of this novel.)
I threw in the towel with not even an hour left in the audiobook. When I realized I couldn't muster even one f*ck about what happens to Patricia and Laurence, and the world, I decided to abandon ship.
Maybe the characters will stop being so weird to each other?
Maybe a plot will finally take shape?
Maybe the writing will stop trying so hard?
Maybe the narrator can save the day? (For what it's worth, she was the best part of this novel.)
I threw in the towel with not even an hour left in the audiobook. When I realized I couldn't muster even one f*ck about what happens to Patricia and Laurence, and the world, I decided to abandon ship.
3.5 stars...I need to think about it a bit more.
I finished this book and cannot decide if I liked it or not. I truly enjoyed it for the first 2/3 and then I had to read it quickly so I could return it to the library without fees. I found the characters interesting, the intersection of science and magic very clever, and the overall story was good (it's also funny that it follows the two-thirds romance rule).
Laurence and Patricia have horrific times in middle school, both are bullied constantly, and then one day they meet. They each finally have a friend. But then they're separated. They grow up and meet each other again by chance (or is it?!). Patricia has come into her powers as a witch and Laurence has become a science superstar. And then all hell breaks loose and the world is ending and wait...what just happened? That's pretty much how I felt.
I finished this book and cannot decide if I liked it or not. I truly enjoyed it for the first 2/3 and then I had to read it quickly so I could return it to the library without fees. I found the characters interesting, the intersection of science and magic very clever, and the overall story was good (it's also funny that it follows the two-thirds romance rule).
Laurence and Patricia have horrific times in middle school, both are bullied constantly, and then one day they meet. They each finally have a friend. But then they're separated. They grow up and meet each other again by chance (or is it?!). Patricia has come into her powers as a witch and Laurence has become a science superstar. And then all hell breaks loose and the world is ending and wait...what just happened? That's pretty much how I felt.
Over all I enjoyed this book a lot. The author sets up a fun, sort of whimsical world of magic and super science in the first part of the book, which makes for a nice contrast with the pathos experienced by the two main characters as adolescents. Its an inventive, original blend of sci-fi and fantasy and exactly the kind of escapist reading that I've been desperately looking for these days.
I did knock off a star though because I found the ending slightly less than satisfying. It felt like the story was building steadily to an intense climax and then....a somewhat pat ending was slapped on to finish everything up.
I did knock off a star though because I found the ending slightly less than satisfying. It felt like the story was building steadily to an intense climax and then....a somewhat pat ending was slapped on to finish everything up.
I did not like the writing style. The plot was trying to do a LOT, but nothing ever felt fully fleshed out. The characters were flat and uninteresting. If I hadn't been reading this book for a challenge I wouldn't have finished it.
Starts slow but gets immensely better once the main characters are adults.
It's really hard for me to give a book that, overall, was an enjoyable read less than 4 stars. However, if I could, I'd give this book maybe 3.5.
Anders does some fun things playing technology and magic off of each other. The main characters are interesting and dynamic. The book raises some good questions, however lightly, about our place in the universe.
My problem is that, outside of the two main characters, none of the characters are developed. There is a long list of friends and colleagues that were easy to lose track of. It was like they were just randomly selected names used to make you think that the main characters lived in an inhabited world. Even worse were the family members, who all seemed like comical caricatures that didn't fit at all with the tone of the rest of the book.
Anders does some fun things playing technology and magic off of each other. The main characters are interesting and dynamic. The book raises some good questions, however lightly, about our place in the universe.
My problem is that, outside of the two main characters, none of the characters are developed. There is a long list of friends and colleagues that were easy to lose track of. It was like they were just randomly selected names used to make you think that the main characters lived in an inhabited world. Even worse were the family members, who all seemed like comical caricatures that didn't fit at all with the tone of the rest of the book.
I thought this was a great read/listen to. The story was very interesting and a nice blend of technology and magic. I thought it was a nice different take on the "end of the world."