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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
An interesting, spiralling twist on the detective-fiction genre, the main issue I had with City of Glass is that I couldn't ever really decide WHY? Not 'Why' as in 'why-are-the-characters-doing-this?', but 'why' as in 'why-does-this-book-exist?'. Yes, sometimes a ripping yarn is reason enough for a book to call attention to itself, and be brought into existence, but Auster's book seems to demand a deeper reading, and seems to be working at unveiling a larger, more complex message, but it is not illuminated here. I am curious about the remaining two books in the so-called New York Trilogy, but only if they feature (and advance) the story of Quinn. More existential prattling for its own sake would just get tiresome.
Really, this book reads like a modern-ized, meta-centric version of The Man Who Was Thursday, except set on the New York streets rather than the British countryside. Which, y'know...is fine, I guess.
Really, this book reads like a modern-ized, meta-centric version of The Man Who Was Thursday, except set on the New York streets rather than the British countryside. Which, y'know...is fine, I guess.
So the "trilogy" (City of Glass, Ghosts, The Locked Room) is really just one book. Like it doesn't even make sense to review them separately.
And um, wow. Crazy & interesting & clearly with SO much going on below the surface. (Now that I know how everything ties together, I may need to read it again to really get it.) Dream-like & spooky & incredibly well-written.
From a Washington Post Review - "Ever since City of Glass, the first volume of his New York Trilogy, Auster has perfected a limpid, confessional style, then used it to set disoriented heroes in a seemingly familiar world gradually suffused with mounting uneasiness, vague menace and possible hallucination. His plots — drawing on elements from suspense stories, existential récit and autobiography — keep readers turning the pages, but sometimes end by leaving them uncertain about what they've just been through." I'd say that's about right.
Short, though, even with all three put together. I could've gone on reading this for weeks.
And um, wow. Crazy & interesting & clearly with SO much going on below the surface. (Now that I know how everything ties together, I may need to read it again to really get it.) Dream-like & spooky & incredibly well-written.
From a Washington Post Review - "Ever since City of Glass, the first volume of his New York Trilogy, Auster has perfected a limpid, confessional style, then used it to set disoriented heroes in a seemingly familiar world gradually suffused with mounting uneasiness, vague menace and possible hallucination. His plots — drawing on elements from suspense stories, existential récit and autobiography — keep readers turning the pages, but sometimes end by leaving them uncertain about what they've just been through." I'd say that's about right.
Short, though, even with all three put together. I could've gone on reading this for weeks.
It was interesting. Perhaps too interesting for the lack of solution at the end. I loathe books with no solution... I need to KNOW. I am a bit curious regarding the next two books in the trilogy, though. I can't see how you can continue from this ending, and I don't think they will provide any overall solution either. Have yet to decide whether I'll read them or not.
Will need to read through at least twice more, I think. Great, easy paced read.
Ug, what a disappointing book. The first half is disturbing and then the second half dissolves into a random meaningless unsatisfying ending.
I kept trying to fight this book like a sickness, but it's noir and grime, so irresistible. I keep thinking of the next two and trying to plan what they'll be like, then giving up.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes