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radbear76's review
3.0
Has the VanderMeer trademark surreal/abstract style but not to the extreme of the Southern Reach trilogy. Entertaining but the absurdist tangents could have been safely pared back.
brdsk8s's review
4.0
5/5 ⭐️ for the audiobook
But overall I’d give the book itself between a 4 - 4.5 ⭐️ rating.
But overall I’d give the book itself between a 4 - 4.5 ⭐️ rating.
leighbeevee's review
1.0
DNF at 45%
I really wanted to like this book. But I really, really did not. I kept going back to it with a sigh and a sense of obligation, not out of pleasure. It's a difficult read and I'm still shocked it's technically YA. I applaud any and all yutes getting through this book.
I really wanted to like this book. But I really, really did not. I kept going back to it with a sigh and a sense of obligation, not out of pleasure. It's a difficult read and I'm still shocked it's technically YA. I applaud any and all yutes getting through this book.
bekarebeka's review
4.0
I listened to this audiobook while I fell asleep for a long time. It's kind of the perfect mixture of a soothing voice with dream-like weirdness
laurenchapple's review
4.0
i have to admit that i was confused and struggled to get into the book for the first 100-200ish pages. however, once i started to understand the world, i enjoyed it way more.
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
4.0
Update: I am done! This was a 2-month labor of reading. A fun, mess-with-your-head, when-will-you-shut-up-Jeff-but-keep-talking, Kafka is a WHAT? type of reading journey. It was a little exhausting but I genuinely liked it. Minor spoiler:
Also, it's really strange to finish reading this and then to start playing Link's Awakening on the Switch. I just kept calling Boarblins"death piggies" to myself and giggling every time.
Please see below for advice on how to read this very frustrating and wonderful book.
----
I'm still reading but I think I unlocked the secret to this book! I was trying to understand every nuance and remember each character and their motivation and attempting to figure out the rules... But that's not how you should read the book. It will drive you mad. Kirkus review pushed me to just open my mind and take it in. And once I did that (at first slowly, then all at once, heh) I started having fun!
Best way to open your mind? Make like Dee in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
Trey : [Dee is chugging beers] Wow, you can really put 'em back, can't you?
Dee Reynolds : The trick is to just kind of open your throat.
So just kind of open your throat, everyone, to the words of Jeff Vandermeer. twss?
Spoiler
There is absolutely no resolution and what was I even expecting, but I had fun, especially towards the end when something Blue and Sark made an appearance, and Ruth Less just got better and better every time she made an appearance.Also, it's really strange to finish reading this and then to start playing Link's Awakening on the Switch. I just kept calling Boarblins"death piggies" to myself and giggling every time.
Please see below for advice on how to read this very frustrating and wonderful book.
----
I'm still reading but I think I unlocked the secret to this book! I was trying to understand every nuance and remember each character and their motivation and attempting to figure out the rules... But that's not how you should read the book. It will drive you mad. Kirkus review pushed me to just open my mind and take it in. And once I did that (at first slowly, then all at once, heh) I started having fun!
Best way to open your mind? Make like Dee in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
Trey : [Dee is chugging beers] Wow, you can really put 'em back, can't you?
Dee Reynolds : The trick is to just kind of open your throat.
So just kind of open your throat, everyone, to the words of Jeff Vandermeer. twss?
planswithbooks's review against another edition
I have no clue what’s going on. This book is strange and not in a way I enjoy.
bnris's review
The first and second chapters were confusing and felt as if I'd picked up a book mid series. The third chapter was complete jibberish, may as well have been written in a completely different language. Tried to stick it out for chapter four but I just couldn't hack it. Sorry book club!
thereadingrambler's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5