You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.05 AVERAGE
3.05 AVERAGE
Thank goodness for Melville House who published this book without requiring the author to water it down and make it like other books out there that promises to be serious then reads like a romance thriller. The Mirror Thief does not do that.
Several reviewers commented that the end of the book did not satisfy them for a variety of reasons. I found, on the contrary, that the ending made me want to go back to the beginning and reread from a different perspective. Looking forward to having time for that someday.
Are there some challenges with language and style? Of course. Thank goodness. For me they were more in the contemporary gambling scenes because I have so little interest in it. Since I actually have a special interest in Venice and its long relationship with the Byzantine and subsequent Turkish empires, that section was a joy to read. My only critique would be that I found Crivano the least fully-realized character in some ways. It may have something to do with age of the character vs age of the author. For example we understand the young Stanley better than the old Stanley (whom of course we barely meet).
Several reviewers commented that the end of the book did not satisfy them for a variety of reasons. I found, on the contrary, that the ending made me want to go back to the beginning and reread from a different perspective. Looking forward to having time for that someday.
Are there some challenges with language and style? Of course. Thank goodness. For me they were more in the contemporary gambling scenes because I have so little interest in it. Since I actually have a special interest in Venice and its long relationship with the Byzantine and subsequent Turkish empires, that section was a joy to read. My only critique would be that I found Crivano the least fully-realized character in some ways. It may have something to do with age of the character vs age of the author. For example we understand the young Stanley better than the old Stanley (whom of course we barely meet).
★ There were three plots intertwined throughout, two of them in this century. Personally, I thought they were fairly dull and really flipped through them.
★ I hate the writing style that doesn’t involve quotation marks. It’s become popular amongst some authors who want to ‘blur the line’ between descriptions and dialogue… but like… why? It seems arrogant and overly pretentious, IMHO.
★ Some people might LOVE this book. It was really well acclaimed and if it’s your style, then you might be super into this twisty thriller. For me, I found it a little dull and the plots (multiple) didn’t live up to the writing style that made it tricky to follow and I found myself drifting off…
Not even sure if I can say I read this one, I started flipping through it so aggressively. It’s a pretty different style than what I normally pick up, so I’m glad I know what I like!
★ I hate the writing style that doesn’t involve quotation marks. It’s become popular amongst some authors who want to ‘blur the line’ between descriptions and dialogue… but like… why? It seems arrogant and overly pretentious, IMHO.
★ Some people might LOVE this book. It was really well acclaimed and if it’s your style, then you might be super into this twisty thriller. For me, I found it a little dull and the plots (multiple) didn’t live up to the writing style that made it tricky to follow and I found myself drifting off…
Not even sure if I can say I read this one, I started flipping through it so aggressively. It’s a pretty different style than what I normally pick up, so I’m glad I know what I like!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Parts of it reminded me of "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl. At times it felt like historical fiction. And at other times, a coming of age story with over tones of a more violent "Catcher in the Rye."
Finally, it fit in well with my recent book club's selection of books with ambiguous endings. You have been warned.
Finally, it fit in well with my recent book club's selection of books with ambiguous endings. You have been warned.
challenging
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism
Minor: Addiction, Drug use
I only made it through 100ish pages of this 400 page tome before giving up but it still hadn't gotten Venice. I only kept reading because I hoped we would make it eventually to Venice. It's not that it's a bad book (though it isn't great, a bit boring and bloated) but I wanted to read about Venice. Maybe I'll return to one day but I doubt it. Even though I just put it down I already forget everything it was about