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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a good 300-page story wrapped up in 960 pages of word vomit. I only made it to page 250 and I just can't keep going. This book is too tedious and full of unnecessary details - for example, there are about 6 pages dedicated to talking about a guy walking from his hotel to his office - and that's it, the entire purpose of the chapter is to describe his walk. There is no reason to use 6 pages to simply say "Randy walked to his new office and got sweaty along the way". There is also a ridiculous amount of pages on really detailed math discussions - it was just too boring (and I'm good at math, doesn't mean I want to read 10 pages about how an algorithm was developed to break a cipher). I had a similar problem with one of Stephenson's other books [b:Seveneves|22816087|Seveneves|Neal Stephenson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423679127s/22816087.jpg|42299347] - it spent way too much time on orbital mechanics and not enough time on the story. I really want to like this author but I can't stand his excessive descriptions and details that don't contribute anything to the plot.
This book borders delightfully on 'too many words' and 'extremely interesting.'
My biggest surprise was just how unexpectedly, gobsmackingly funny this book was! Like many of Stephenson's books, the ending on this one seemed a little... off. But I will almost certainly read/listen to this again, just for the humor. And I heartily recommend the audiobook version. It makes the size of the novel seem less daunting.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This amazing mixture of cryptography, computers, adventure, war, love, and (pseudo)philosophical debate creates a one of a kind novel (or perhaps opus is the correct term). A nerdy, but o so appealing, book, full of side-stories, or anecdotes that make it into an extremely pleasurable read.
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Second reading. Still brilliant. It appeals on so many levels to my inner nerd. It has so many quirky asides about nerdy ways of looking at the things that happen in ordinary life, I caught myself applying some of them on things that were happening around me and laughing.
Great read, worth the 1150 pages.
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Second reading. Still brilliant. It appeals on so many levels to my inner nerd. It has so many quirky asides about nerdy ways of looking at the things that happen in ordinary life, I caught myself applying some of them on things that were happening around me and laughing.
Great read, worth the 1150 pages.
Combines some of my favorite subjects: computer software technology (cryptology in this case) and WWII and 20th century history. Stephenson is a master at quirky character development as well as tying together life stories from different eras. I loved this book even though it doesn't move quickly (as his Snow Crash novel did).
I read this highly rated book after putting down snowcrash (same author)
Although I finished it, I would not rate it. At best it could be called historical/semi fiction
Apart from a few one liners that made me laugh there was little to recommend.
Although I finished it, I would not rate it. At best it could be called historical/semi fiction
Apart from a few one liners that made me laugh there was little to recommend.
I haven't gotten very far into this book yet. I may try again some other time when I am done with other series.