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2.49 AVERAGE
2.49 AVERAGE
Although I enjoyed the book, I found the mystery plot to be a little underwhelming. I was hoping for a bigger surprise.
Received free from Penguin First to Read, my thoughts are my own.
The idea of this book--a woman breaking free of the things and people that hold her back, and coming into her own--seems like a good idea. And yet, the writing! It's stilted and overblown, constantly drawing attention to itself and away from the plot. You're constantly aware of the act of reading. It reminds me of a bad translation, where each word has been stitched together into a Frankenstein's monster that seems like it ought to be a sentence, yet somehow, is repulsively not one.
There's no sense talking more about my other impressions--I read the book, but the writing overpowered everything else. I wouldn't recommend it unless weird, over-complicated, self-indulgent writing strikes you as somehow clever.
The idea of this book--a woman breaking free of the things and people that hold her back, and coming into her own--seems like a good idea. And yet, the writing! It's stilted and overblown, constantly drawing attention to itself and away from the plot. You're constantly aware of the act of reading. It reminds me of a bad translation, where each word has been stitched together into a Frankenstein's monster that seems like it ought to be a sentence, yet somehow, is repulsively not one.
There's no sense talking more about my other impressions--I read the book, but the writing overpowered everything else. I wouldn't recommend it unless weird, over-complicated, self-indulgent writing strikes you as somehow clever.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. The blurb made it sound like a funny mystery story, but I never laughed and the mystery of the map was too confusing to care about.
The writing style reminded me of that episode of Friends where Joey used a thesaurus to write the letter for Chandler and Monica. It was as if the writer was trying to be smart with the words she used but it just came across as pretentious and unnecessary. I know the writer is also a poet, so her poetic style of writing comes through. I'm not a fan of poetry myself, so maybe this particular style just isn't for me.
The character of Stella herself wasn't very likeable. She just came across as a bit airy-fairy and not really in touch with the real world. I thought the author was trying too hard to make the character seem quirky but it just didn't work for me, unfortunately.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone if I'm honest , but I know a lot of it is personal preference so maybe someone else would like it. But I won't be going back to this book myself.
(Click here for my full review: http://rachelsramblingreflections.com/2017/08/10/impossible-views-of-the-world-lucy-ives/ )
I wanted to like this book, I really did. The blurb made it sound like a funny mystery story, but I never laughed and the mystery of the map was too confusing to care about.
The writing style reminded me of that episode of Friends where Joey used a thesaurus to write the letter for Chandler and Monica. It was as if the writer was trying to be smart with the words she used but it just came across as pretentious and unnecessary. I know the writer is also a poet, so her poetic style of writing comes through. I'm not a fan of poetry myself, so maybe this particular style just isn't for me.
The character of Stella herself wasn't very likeable. She just came across as a bit airy-fairy and not really in touch with the real world. I thought the author was trying too hard to make the character seem quirky but it just didn't work for me, unfortunately.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone if I'm honest , but I know a lot of it is personal preference so maybe someone else would like it. But I won't be going back to this book myself.
(Click here for my full review: http://rachelsramblingreflections.com/2017/08/10/impossible-views-of-the-world-lucy-ives/ )
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Like others before me, this is getting a big DNF.
I’m halfway through, and I’m not entirely certain anything has happened, other than my brain be numbed with the author’s very forced-feeling attempt at having her character (or herself?) sound erudite (word choice specifically ironic). Instead it comes off as stilted and snobbish, and not in an interesting manner, as the character is also self-deprecating? Plus what is the character actually doing? What is happening? I think someone died and maybe she’s found a map, but I can’t be certain of either of this things because 80 million other little things have been given more attention, and every word has been thoroughly run through a thesaurus before being chosen.
Just. Ugh.
I’m halfway through, and I’m not entirely certain anything has happened, other than my brain be numbed with the author’s very forced-feeling attempt at having her character (or herself?) sound erudite (word choice specifically ironic). Instead it comes off as stilted and snobbish, and not in an interesting manner, as the character is also self-deprecating? Plus what is the character actually doing? What is happening? I think someone died and maybe she’s found a map, but I can’t be certain of either of this things because 80 million other little things have been given more attention, and every word has been thoroughly run through a thesaurus before being chosen.
Just. Ugh.
I found this book to be pretentious. It was not an enjoyable read. I hung in there for the whole thing, but I wish that I had quit much earlier. I kept hoping that something would occur to draw me in, but it just never happened. The language was unnecessarily showy, the characters were obnoxious and immature, and there was little plot to speak of.
* I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
* I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was appalled by the writing early on, but ultimately I was not engaged by the protagonist or her quest to connect the dots.
There were a lot of things I liked about the book. I enjoy books set in art museums. "The Mixed Up Files..." was - and still is - one of my favorite books. I love books set in NYC in urbane, sophisticated households. The plot was interesting. A co-worker at the Central Museum (fictional Met) disappears. That mystery is set along side a historical art mystery and then the two overlap. I love maps and they were an aspect of the story. The main character was interesting and had depth. But there were questions left hanging or maybe I didn't figure them out. The novel was also funny in a biting way at times. But overall the language was too dense and the style too wordy for my taste. I struggled through the forest at times in this book to see the trees. Some characters were fuzzy and there was way too much inner monologue. The book was clever but almost too much so.
ADVANCE GALLEY REVIEWS from Penguins First to Read
by Sandra Brower, Lincoln
Rated 3.5
This book took until page 80 for me to straighten out in my brain the writing style of Ms. Ives. Finally, I realized that I found the book oddly delightful in ways. Maybe, because as a fellow deep thinker, all over the place, go into my brain and see things happening in story form, like Stella's view of her own maddening stagnation when it came to one of her relationships (I mean, she uses a Star Wars reference for Pete's sake!!)
I just got the formation of her thoughts. Ms. Ives creates an impossible view of the inner workings of an inner NYC museum, that none of us might ever get a glimpse of seeing.
I did find it a little bit forced at the end. Through 304 pages of story it's only until towards the end we get even a hint of a resolution coming to the mysteryof Elysia.
I am a notetaker when it comes to reading as I review these books. There are a ton of art references in this book. If only for the fun of exploring a museum might you read Impossible Views of the World. If for pure reading, it might just be too Impossible to finish. Boy, did a re-learn a lot about Limner art! If nothing else.
Sorry, I gives this book a 2.5 rating.
by Sandra Brower, Lincoln
Rated 3.5
This book took until page 80 for me to straighten out in my brain the writing style of Ms. Ives. Finally, I realized that I found the book oddly delightful in ways. Maybe, because as a fellow deep thinker, all over the place, go into my brain and see things happening in story form, like Stella's view of her own maddening stagnation when it came to one of her relationships (I mean, she uses a Star Wars reference for Pete's sake!!)
I just got the formation of her thoughts. Ms. Ives creates an impossible view of the inner workings of an inner NYC museum, that none of us might ever get a glimpse of seeing.
I did find it a little bit forced at the end. Through 304 pages of story it's only until towards the end we get even a hint of a resolution coming to the mysteryof Elysia.
I am a notetaker when it comes to reading as I review these books. There are a ton of art references in this book. If only for the fun of exploring a museum might you read Impossible Views of the World. If for pure reading, it might just be too Impossible to finish. Boy, did a re-learn a lot about Limner art! If nothing else.
Sorry, I gives this book a 2.5 rating.