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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
for some reason, I had a hard time connecting with anything happening in this book. the social critique going on was the only aspect that interested me in any way but the anticlimactic turn it took left me a bit disappointed. can't say this is particularly a bad book but it just didn't work out, in my opinion. there's too much I would have edited out, which is never a good feeling.
would rather see the movie or tv series of this story.
would rather see the movie or tv series of this story.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
dark
tense
medium-paced
This was not one of the better reads this year. Maybe it was a bad translation maybe not but I still don't grasp the concept of a 38 mm revolver.
Always, I take the Goodreads rating with a grain of salt, and here's another book on which we disagree. While the first half is a bit slow, it does a solid job of worldbuilding and letting us sink into the world of The Plotters and assassins and the rules along with that, which hovers between a grounding reality that we do know and the fanciful ideas of one we don't. There's a jerky sensation during reading, bizarre whiplash, but lets you sink in to the gritty atmosphere. The main character is at once aloof, detached, introspective, flat; it's nihilism with moments of reflection and even tenderness, or as close to it as he gets. There's a satisfaction in what it doesn't spell out for you, what it chooses not to say about its characters. Up until the middle, it's a 3/5 - the second half does a great heel-turn in action and suspense but still with that dreamy, detached feeling that spins it into a 4 for me.
Sora Kim-Russell's translation is beautiful prose. Loved the story but unsatisfied by the ending!
A lot of fun. The assassin and orphan Reseng deals with the crumbling of the business, prey to cheaper, sloppier competition. Not that Reseng is any kind of James Bond. "Beer Week" was my favorite section of the book. The conceit goes a little long, but very enjoyable.
A complex and amazing novel! I've not read anything like this before, although the closest would be Haruki Murakami. Hard to describe -- twisty and dark.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes