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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a ride. It also may be my favorite book I've read this year.
A little bit American Gods, a little bit Babadook, a little bit Neverwhere except with the New York City boroughs instead of the London Underground, and a lot creepy fairy tale. Apollo Kagwa is a new father who sells rare and used books when a (seemingly) horrific crime sets him off on a quest to solve a mystery about what happened to his wife and child. The characters are strong, the references to mythology and fairy tales invigorating, and action non-stop.
The book has strong themes. One is the usefulness but also inherent danger of computer technology. I don't want to get into spoiler territory, but there are major moments where everything from seemingly innocuous Facebook comments to apps come into play. Stronger though is the storytelling theme, with characters telling each other stories passed down through the generations and the meaning of those stories, or whether they even have meanings or were just a way to get kids to go to bed already. But the strongest theme is parenting--parenting anxiety, parenting as a way to connect with your own parents, parenting as a partnership, parenting on your own--the struggle of raising a child is all over this book, and not always in a comforting way. It's very dark, but also very very readable.
Spoilers:
Yes, I did use Google to see whether Brian was actually dead. If he'd been dead, I wouldn't have finished this book. Trust the reviews! Trust the awards! This isn't The Cabin at the End of the World. I promise you the baby does not die.
A little bit American Gods, a little bit Babadook, a little bit Neverwhere except with the New York City boroughs instead of the London Underground, and a lot creepy fairy tale. Apollo Kagwa is a new father who sells rare and used books when a (seemingly) horrific crime sets him off on a quest to solve a mystery about what happened to his wife and child. The characters are strong, the references to mythology and fairy tales invigorating, and action non-stop.
The book has strong themes. One is the usefulness but also inherent danger of computer technology. I don't want to get into spoiler territory, but there are major moments where everything from seemingly innocuous Facebook comments to apps come into play. Stronger though is the storytelling theme, with characters telling each other stories passed down through the generations and the meaning of those stories, or whether they even have meanings or were just a way to get kids to go to bed already. But the strongest theme is parenting--parenting anxiety, parenting as a way to connect with your own parents, parenting as a partnership, parenting on your own--the struggle of raising a child is all over this book, and not always in a comforting way. It's very dark, but also very very readable.
Spoilers:
Yes, I did use Google to see whether Brian was actually dead. If he'd been dead, I wouldn't have finished this book. Trust the reviews! Trust the awards! This isn't The Cabin at the End of the World. I promise you the baby does not die.
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
A truly captivating modern fairy tale with twist and turns, heartache, and happiness.
Were it not for the intriguing story and my glut for punishment, i would have quit this book. If I had known the premise ahead of time, I never would have started it.
As a dad (and empathetic human being), I can't bear even the notion of child abuse, but The Changeling confronts you with it. Explicitly. Early and often.
It was all the grim I need for the foreseeable future.
As a dad (and empathetic human being), I can't bear even the notion of child abuse, but The Changeling confronts you with it. Explicitly. Early and often.
It was all the grim I need for the foreseeable future.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Without going into great detail, I loved the first 3/4 of the book, and while I wasn't unsatisfied with the ending, I suppose I found something missing. It's possible that I read too much into the first half or more.
On the other hand, I couldn't stop progression of the book. I finished this faster than most because it paced well.
On the other hand, I couldn't stop progression of the book. I finished this faster than most because it paced well.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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