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infinitebynature's review against another edition
5.0
Found it hard to become fully absorbed in the first book, am now completely captivated by the storyline as the threads of so many lives start to come together!
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
With cautious optimism I bought 'Into the Forest'. A lot of pins had been set up in the previous volume with nine view point narratives, hints dropped, and literary mechanics, the narcons, literally introduced to readers. I couldn't be sure what was going on on every page, but it was compelling reading.
I felt like I had to give the story more room before I could begin to assess it, and now we're 800+ more pages into the story. I still have to reserve most judgement deeper than a star-rating and that 'The Familiar' got better. Xanther's beginning to become aware of something changing her little friend, the kitten, he's hungry for something, but she doesn't want to accept know what it desires. The other characters begin to be aware of each other in unexpected ways, sounds or images they can't place. I don't love most of Danielewski's font or formatting choices (Ozgur's everything right on top of that list), but the story keeps coming out ahead of its concept, proving there's more to it than a gimmick. The characters are rounding out and the language of the different viewpoints is easier to fall into rather than keeping the reader out. The best set-piece comes right at the end, so I won't spoil it, but it was impressive.
Don't ask me what this is all about, but consider me hooked.
The Familiar
'The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May'
'The Familiar, Volume 3: Honeysuckle & Pain'
I felt like I had to give the story more room before I could begin to assess it, and now we're 800+ more pages into the story. I still have to reserve most judgement deeper than a star-rating and that 'The Familiar' got better. Xanther's beginning to become aware of something changing her little friend, the kitten, he's hungry for something, but she doesn't want to accept know what it desires. The other characters begin to be aware of each other in unexpected ways, sounds or images they can't place. I don't love most of Danielewski's font or formatting choices (Ozgur's everything right on top of that list), but the story keeps coming out ahead of its concept, proving there's more to it than a gimmick. The characters are rounding out and the language of the different viewpoints is easier to fall into rather than keeping the reader out. The best set-piece comes right at the end, so I won't spoil it, but it was impressive.
Don't ask me what this is all about, but consider me hooked.
The Familiar
'The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May'
'The Familiar, Volume 3: Honeysuckle & Pain'
beekeeperellie's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
thefool's review against another edition
5.0
NOTE: This series is not finished and will NOT be finished in the forum that it exists now. The Author has stated that he is working on a resolution to the dilemma after the cost and scope of publication became a thing they just couldn't stick with. That and his style is definitely an acquired taste, so they can't guarantee sales.
Do I think it still worth diving into?
YES!!!!!!!!
If you can get into the style [and I would read his more well known series 'House of Leaves' to see if it jives with you or not] then this series is creepy, heart stopping, awesome fun!! I want so desperately to leap into the next after the ending of this one.
The 'Familiar' is got, in this installment. It's about how said familiar fits in with the family and how all the strings of all the various characters are gradually being intertwined.
Do I think it still worth diving into?
YES!!!!!!!!
If you can get into the style [and I would read his more well known series 'House of Leaves' to see if it jives with you or not] then this series is creepy, heart stopping, awesome fun!! I want so desperately to leap into the next after the ending of this one.
The 'Familiar' is got, in this installment. It's about how said familiar fits in with the family and how all the strings of all the various characters are gradually being intertwined.
sarrie's review against another edition
4.0
4.75 *s
Well that was a ride, with a killer cliffhanger. Wow.
Well that was a ride, with a killer cliffhanger. Wow.
vonnegutian's review
4.0
I enjoyed this more than the 'pilot' and the strands of stories simmer along nicely in this volume. I still have reservations about the body of work: mainly whether it will continue to deliver satisfactorily over so many volumes. Listening to the Game of Thrones audiobooks currently, I am drawing parallels between the two works and their 'worlds'. I can't shake the feeling that George R.R Martin's feels more accomplished but what I like about Into the Forest is that it is perhaps how it must/should be for a world set in the modern day; encapsulating much of a modern life that is broad and in some ways unfamiliar. I once again wish to apply the caveat that Mark Z Danielewski is most probably operating on a much higher intellectual plain than I so it will no doubt be amazing. It has inspired me to buy volume 3 anyway so I'm definitely sticking with it and it's nice to read alongside the Facebook group (check them out if you're on it too!). I think also I'd like to hear the author speak more about the work too as I've heard snippets of interesting things that he's said in discussion. All in all an intriguing read that still has me strapped in for the ride 👍🏻
alysasuh's review against another edition
3.0
I'm probably still going to read the third one? So much is happening.
dannewton's review
3.0
To be fair: 3.5-3.75. Still so much unexplored and unexplained. I guess that’s what the other 19 volumes will be for. Onward!