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maryleong's review against another edition
4.0
"Think about how people now use even just our little city streets app on their phones while walking...They walk with their eyes glued to HabWalk. They only stop when the map says they've arrived, and then they look up to see they've reached their destination...They're not comparing our map to the world – they're comparing the world to our map."
I'd just finished The Ten Thousand Doors of January yesterday, and The Cartographers, is, much in the same vein, about opening doors into other worlds. Nell Young's estranged father, prominent academic Dr. Daniel Young, is found dead in his office, setting off a chain of events that ask the question: do maps reflect reality, or do they create new realities? Through the (real-life) phantom settlement of Agloe, The Cartographers is a poignant and bittersweet exploration about what shapes reality and our experience of it.
I'd just finished The Ten Thousand Doors of January yesterday, and The Cartographers, is, much in the same vein, about opening doors into other worlds. Nell Young's estranged father, prominent academic Dr. Daniel Young, is found dead in his office, setting off a chain of events that ask the question: do maps reflect reality, or do they create new realities? Through the (real-life) phantom settlement of Agloe, The Cartographers is a poignant and bittersweet exploration about what shapes reality and our experience of it.
ryanward5500's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 rounded down
The maps were sooo cool, but it just makes the rest of the book that much more of a disappointment.
The maps were sooo cool, but it just makes the rest of the book that much more of a disappointment.
mynameismarines's review against another edition
3.0
I totally get why this didn't work for everyone, but despite all of the weaknesses here, there was something about the vibe and the project of it all that hit for me.
The weaknesses include patchy pacing and characterization. The strengths are the melancholy vibe and all the big feelings about place and belonging. You have to get over the weak magic system and lack of explanation to appreciate the thematic exploration. I wouldn’t generally recommend this one, but I gave it 3.5 stars.
katiesuelovesyou's review against another edition
3.0
Three stars because 1/3 of this book is really great! Another third of it is pretty good, kind of mild. But the last third just FALLS APART through plot holes and predictability.
I wanted to like this story so much, especially when we get past the bones and skin into the juicy bites! The magic is so sweet, though sadly the logic that supports it just doesn’t have much grounds to stand on. It’s easy to spot the “mystery” antagonist far too early and I can’t help but shake my head at the so called justification it all rests on in the final 25 pages.
Le sigh. A disappointment for what could have been a full 5 stars, but still an enjoyable read for the most part!
I wanted to like this story so much, especially when we get past the bones and skin into the juicy bites! The magic is so sweet, though sadly the logic that supports it just doesn’t have much grounds to stand on. It’s easy to spot the “mystery” antagonist far too early and I can’t help but shake my head at the so called justification it all rests on in the final 25 pages.
Le sigh. A disappointment for what could have been a full 5 stars, but still an enjoyable read for the most part!
carolehto's review against another edition
4.0
Such a unique story. I love maps! A magical map allowing one to travel to hidden places is so intriguing.
mmgohman99's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dani_lbriggs's review against another edition
5.0
Not gonna lie…started out not catching my attention but in the end I was fully hooked. You will never look at a map the same. Think National Treasure meets Da Vinci Code.
mollison's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0