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trin's review against another edition
2.0
Like Thomas' [b: PopCo|4285468|PopCo|Scarlett Thomas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347962344s/4285468.jpg|2930906], I found this both fascinating and frustrating. Thomas definitely achieves something really special with her ability to make her writing intensely cerebral (some of my favorite parts of Mr. Y were the digressions into quantum physics and other brain-stretching topics) while at the same time creating very human, flawed characters. Still, there's a quality of...coldness that prevents me from becoming emotionally involved. Perhaps the whole thing seems too clever, too orchestrated? I don't know. Anyway: the plot of this novel is nominally about a cursed book, but is really much more like an alternate take on Being John Malkovich with an ending that feels like the close of 2001: A Space Odyssey, the part that's supposed to be best if watched stoned. As with PopCo, the experience of reading the novel was very pleasurable and interesting, but the final impact just isn't there; it's oddly unsatisfying.
yetimantra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sasmort's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amycat's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It was interesting and I learnt so much from it. I would have given it 5 stars if the sex scenes weren't as bland, or the Troposphere parts weren't so confusing and muddled.
bhawargi's review against another edition
3.5
This was more about though experiments and philosophy, held together by a mildly coherent sci-fi plot.
sylvilel's review against another edition
1.0
The first and only time I have actually torn apart and BURNED a book because it was so crappy.
hrstarzec's review against another edition
4.0
It begins wonderfully off-kilter with a university falling down into itself, and with the words that mean nothing at the start but would become prophetic -- YOU NOW HAVE ONE CHOICE. It immediately captures a tone I'm drawn to, something as plausible as a building collapsing accented with brushstrokes of absurdism. So I have to say that this novel had me from the start, the academia of it all, the flourish of magical realism (or the promise of it, with no indication yet whether it will become real or simply theoretical). I think I enjoyed that pursuit of the unreal more than the eventual representation of it, considering somewhere short of the halfway mark the novel did slip from my grasp a little, where somehow both the plot and the philosophical musings are ramped up in a way that doesn't mesh, the Troposphere being represented as a sort of video game or computer simulation environment, and then two characters having a conversation about philosophy and choice and religion right in the middle of the action. It began to remind me unfavorably of The Midnight Library, where an intriguing idea is brought down a little by YA-level plot development.
However, I was able to get back on this novel's wavelength. It's a bit like a mash-up between Being John Malkovich and The Matrix, but even more concerned with philosophy than the latter. It gives itself a bit of an excuse to be overly absurd at times, and regardless the imagery is often fascinating. I don't know a ton about philosophy and I didn't read this with the assumption that any of it holds any actual philosophical ground (I wouldn't be surprised if there are a million philosophers screaming at the pages). Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, but it still did enough to be thought-provoking and, viewing it from the perspective of a speculative fiction novel, it creates a fascinating, intricate world. Even at the very end there are aspects of the plot I wasn't really on board with, but I can let that go in service of a very unique read.
However, I was able to get back on this novel's wavelength. It's a bit like a mash-up between Being John Malkovich and The Matrix, but even more concerned with philosophy than the latter. It gives itself a bit of an excuse to be overly absurd at times, and regardless the imagery is often fascinating. I don't know a ton about philosophy and I didn't read this with the assumption that any of it holds any actual philosophical ground (I wouldn't be surprised if there are a million philosophers screaming at the pages). Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, but it still did enough to be thought-provoking and, viewing it from the perspective of a speculative fiction novel, it creates a fascinating, intricate world. Even at the very end there are aspects of the plot I wasn't really on board with, but I can let that go in service of a very unique read.
bookwormy614's review against another edition
3.0
I want to finish this book. I really do. I've tried on 3 separate occasions and the furthest I've gotten is about halfway through. It starts off so well then it begins to drag and loses my attention and I move on to something else. The premise is great. A cursed book. Sounds interesting. But it just gets so boring midway. I'm going to restart it though, start from the beginning for the fourth time and hopefully get through it this time and update this review before the fall.
saflem's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't finish this book. It's just not my sort of thing.