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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Totally absurd, pointless and unnecessarily long and convoluted with a thoroughly unlikeable protagonist and some extremely dated and questionable stuff about gender/sexuality/race … but somehow a really compulsive page turner all the same!
The premise was really enjoyable until about part way through when it started to get more ridiculous than mysterious. Unfortunately I felt like the solution to the mystery - was ultimately unresolved and unsatisfying, and yet I like the basic premise of the story, and I love how the Greek landscape is evoked in the prose. So a mixed bag - worth trying for sure.
The premise was really enjoyable until about part way through when it started to get more ridiculous than mysterious. Unfortunately I felt like the solution to the mystery - was ultimately unresolved and unsatisfying, and yet I like the basic premise of the story, and I love how the Greek landscape is evoked in the prose. So a mixed bag - worth trying for sure.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love unlikable narrators and love everything about the charcters and build up. My all time favorite
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book’s pacing was hard for me to follow. I’m usually a fan of literary and classics, but I felt like the first 75% or so of this story just absolutely dragged, then so much was pushed in to the last quarter. I may try and read it again in a few years, hoping a second time around I have a different perspective on all the events and philosophy in the story.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
Wow. Never have I been so motivated to turn 668 pages, following an unlikeable main character, for the sole reason of finding out what the heck is going on.
Unfortunately, the end is not that satisfying as far as explaining what Conchis has been up to and why. Some reviewers suggest that the book should be read on an allegorical level. For example, maybe it's "really" about the writing process. (And presumably they find the book more satisfying when read this way.)
I'm not great at nonliteral reading, so maybe this meaning is escaping me. However, I'm a writer, and at no point have I felt the power tohandcuff and gag my readers during my story's climax. I should be so lucky. They are all too capable of making disparaging comments, putting my book down, and walking away. LOL
I can't complain. It was a riveting, if puzzling, reading experience. Only a few moments that haven't aged well, like Nicholas's habit of slapping women around when they displease him, and his "dominating" & nearly violent attitude during sex scenes. (Sex scenes in 20th century fiction are inevitably awful, it seems. Equality in bed was apparently invented in about the year 2000.) I think we are intended to find Nicholas unlikeable, but that leaves us with no character to like for the majority of the book.
Unfortunately, the end is not that satisfying as far as explaining what Conchis has been up to and why. Some reviewers suggest that the book should be read on an allegorical level. For example, maybe it's "really" about the writing process. (And presumably they find the book more satisfying when read this way.)
I'm not great at nonliteral reading, so maybe this meaning is escaping me. However, I'm a writer, and at no point have I felt the power to
I can't complain. It was a riveting, if puzzling, reading experience. Only a few moments that haven't aged well, like Nicholas's habit of slapping women around when they displease him, and his "dominating" & nearly violent attitude during sex scenes. (Sex scenes in 20th century fiction are inevitably awful, it seems. Equality in bed was apparently invented in about the year 2000.) I think we are intended to find Nicholas unlikeable, but that leaves us with no character to like for the majority of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, War
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Death of parent, Classism
Last year, when I was reading a collection of essays by [a:A.S. Byatt|1169504|A.S. Byatt|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1221410963p2/1169504.jpg], she mentioned enjoying John Fowles' [b:The French Lieutenant's Woman|250298|The French Lieutenant's Woman|John Fowles|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|1816464]. While I know Byatt isn't God, sometimes I think she might be, so I read the book. Then I picked this book a couple weeks ago.
Talk about quicksand.
The lead, Nick Urfe is a prat, twat, a smuck, a putz. He's a complete and total jerk.
Then he gets taught a lesson and you feel a little sorry for him.
What is compelling about this book is trying to find your way though the quicksand without getting sucked into it like Nick. Not very easy, and if you like to be on sure feet when you read, you won't like this.
Yet there is something compelling about the tone. You don't want to put it down. It's thick but moves so quickly. It's one of those top 100 books where you can understand why it's in the top 100.
Talk about quicksand.
The lead, Nick Urfe is a prat, twat, a smuck, a putz. He's a complete and total jerk.
Then he gets taught a lesson and you feel a little sorry for him.
What is compelling about this book is trying to find your way though the quicksand without getting sucked into it like Nick. Not very easy, and if you like to be on sure feet when you read, you won't like this.
Yet there is something compelling about the tone. You don't want to put it down. It's thick but moves so quickly. It's one of those top 100 books where you can understand why it's in the top 100.
I believe I described this book to my roommate as "things are not always how they seem...times five." I've always been rather fond of this (rather ambitious) novel, though it's constructed around some very dated notions, but if you're looking for a well-written psychological story, this could be a fun read.
Also, last time I read this I was 17 and feeling overly pretentious, though I recall enjoying it quite a lot nonetheless. Definitely got more out of it this time around.
In case you couldn't tell, this is one of those books where a review would spoil everything. Just go read the book. But fair warning, the protagonist is pretty annoying, although the author knows EXACTLY how annoying he is.
Also, last time I read this I was 17 and feeling overly pretentious, though I recall enjoying it quite a lot nonetheless. Definitely got more out of it this time around.
In case you couldn't tell, this is one of those books where a review would spoil everything. Just go read the book. But fair warning, the protagonist is pretty annoying, although the author knows EXACTLY how annoying he is.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Suicide