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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
This book is so weird... but what a fun ride. I thought I knew something about surrealist art - I've got a lot more to learn.
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nobody else creates such vivid, strange, creative worlds. Mieville is one of a kind and this short novel is a great example.
As is always the case with Miéville, amazing, head-breaking writing, astonishing worlds, flights of description no other writer is capable of -- but few to no characters to care about.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"The poets and artists and philosophers, resistance activists, secret scouts and troublemakers, had become, as they must, soldiers."
A frustratingly exciting yet tedious linguistic enterprise that is entirely fitting of Miéville.
This novelette is truly a victim of its own brevity. It is exquisitely researched and whilst I can appreciate the underlying political commentary and allusions, I can't help but feel everything within this book deserves to exist within a sprawling, 20th century sci-fi epic. The last third of this book carries the extent of the tension. I cared little for the extensive cast of eccentrics, again due to briefness.
A frustratingly exciting yet tedious linguistic enterprise that is entirely fitting of Miéville.
This novelette is truly a victim of its own brevity. It is exquisitely researched and whilst I can appreciate the underlying political commentary and allusions, I can't help but feel everything within this book deserves to exist within a sprawling, 20th century sci-fi epic. The last third of this book carries the extent of the tension. I cared little for the extensive cast of eccentrics, again due to briefness.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"The poets and artists and philosophers, resistance activists, secret scouts and troublemakers, had become, as they must, soldiers."
A frustratingly exciting yet tedious linguistic enterprise that is entirely fitting of Miéville.
This novelette is truly a victim of its own brevity. It is exquisitely researched and whilst I can appreciate the underlying political commentary and allusions, I can't help but feel everything within this book deserves to exist within a sprawling, 20th century sci-fi epic. The last third of this book carries the extent of the tension. I cared little for the extensive cast of eccentrics, again due to briefness.
A frustratingly exciting yet tedious linguistic enterprise that is entirely fitting of Miéville.
This novelette is truly a victim of its own brevity. It is exquisitely researched and whilst I can appreciate the underlying political commentary and allusions, I can't help but feel everything within this book deserves to exist within a sprawling, 20th century sci-fi epic. The last third of this book carries the extent of the tension. I cared little for the extensive cast of eccentrics, again due to briefness.
This book is probably really good, but the audiobook is really hard to follow. Anytime the narrator says a French word my brain shuts down. Might read a hardcopy at a later date.
4 1/2 stars.
brilliant from the jump. i love the surrealist occupation of the novel, the increasing weirdness, and cleanly wrought twists. this is incredibly fine creative writing. the perfect kind of strange; genius in its rightness.
brilliant from the jump. i love the surrealist occupation of the novel, the increasing weirdness, and cleanly wrought twists. this is incredibly fine creative writing. the perfect kind of strange; genius in its rightness.