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moshalala's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
oldjenkenobi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mwritesdragons's review against another edition
I was bored to tears by this book, despite the intriguing concept.
hrbie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
teresaalice's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the ultimate slow burn. Though it took me a good few chapters to really get into it, by the end I was so invested in the Telemachus family that I never wanted it to end.
If you like dysfunctional family stories, and also have a penchant for the unexplained, then I would highly recommend this book.
If you like dysfunctional family stories, and also have a penchant for the unexplained, then I would highly recommend this book.
bookishbeccahale's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
Dysfunctional family novels . . .come on, don't they make you feel better about your own relatives? So here we have a book about an out-of-whack family with a twist; some of them, or all of them, may, or may not be, psychics. They're confused, too.
It all went wrong for the Telemachus family when they botched the appearance on the Mike Douglas Show that should have rocketed them into celebrity status and assured their futures. Instead, they are all struggling like regular folks, but with a big quirk.
"Spoonbenders" is frisky and, like the Telemachi, quirky. Daryl Gregory throws in some interesting tidbits about the possible use of psychics during the Cold War, including the development of some sci-fi gizmos to sniff out people with psychic ability. Throw in the Chicago mob--yes, even people with psychic card-counting ability can end up short the vig--and you have a spirited (ahem!) novel.
Thanks to Knopf for letting me pre-read!
It all went wrong for the Telemachus family when they botched the appearance on the Mike Douglas Show that should have rocketed them into celebrity status and assured their futures. Instead, they are all struggling like regular folks, but with a big quirk.
"Spoonbenders" is frisky and, like the Telemachi, quirky. Daryl Gregory throws in some interesting tidbits about the possible use of psychics during the Cold War, including the development of some sci-fi gizmos to sniff out people with psychic ability. Throw in the Chicago mob--yes, even people with psychic card-counting ability can end up short the vig--and you have a spirited (ahem!) novel.
Thanks to Knopf for letting me pre-read!
grayjay's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard to decide if I like this book. The author manages to tell a story about the psychic descendents of cold war era psychic spies without it being too cheesy. Unfortunately, none of the characters were that likeable. Good premise, not a lot of heart.
katie_sterk's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0