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daynpitseleh's review against another edition
4.0
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have no clue what this is but I loved it. It's more of a collection of vignettes rather than an actual novel; there isn't really a plot per se, but somehow it just works. The characters aren't likable, there is tons of stuff that is never explained, the blurb totally misleads you into expecting something else, and yet... I couldn't put this down. Wholly original and entertaining.
I have no clue what this is but I loved it. It's more of a collection of vignettes rather than an actual novel; there isn't really a plot per se, but somehow it just works. The characters aren't likable, there is tons of stuff that is never explained, the blurb totally misleads you into expecting something else, and yet... I couldn't put this down. Wholly original and entertaining.
austra_pro's review
5.0
Viena no lasītāja dzīves smagākajām dilemmām 21. gadsimtā, protams, ir - cik zvaigznīšu vērtējumu likt grāmatai, ja neesi pilnīgi pārliecināts par vienu vai otru variantu. Nu labi, es patiesībā parasti ierēcu par tiem, kas nespēj izlemt, jo lielākoties man vai nu ir vai nav. Bet pienāk tās reizes, kad arī es uzkaros.
Atšķirībā no vairāk ierastā fantāzijas grāmatu stila, kur pasaule, tās noteikumi un apdzīvotāji tiek izzīmēti visnotaļ smalki, daudz laika un lappušu veltot tam, “kas ar ko ko darīja, kāpēc, kad un kur”, Polaņskis lasītāju iemet mūsdienu Ņujorkā (kuru visi ir redzējuši vismaz kino), iedod mutīgu galveno varoni, vārdā M, par kuru līdz grāmatas beigām varu pateikt tikai, ka viņš ir cilvēkveidīga maģiska būtne, vīrietis (visticamāk - ne eiropeīdās rases), vizuālajā vecumā visticamāk kaut kur ap 30, bet tas ir pilnīgi nejaušs minējums, pagariem tumšiem matiem, šķidru bārdu un slaidas miesasbūves.
Arī grāmata nav viengabalains stāsts par vienu mega piedzīvojumu, bet daudzi dažāda garuma stāsti, kas gan vismaz ir izkārtoti hronoloģiski aptuveni viena gada robežās. Un tas, kas mani klupina pie vērtējuma, ir šo stāstu mainīgā kvalitāte. Ir tādi, kas ir izcili un izcili aizraujoši, un ir tādi, kuros autors sapinas pats savā meistarībā un sapačkā tik daudz lietu vienā rindkopā (un tad tā turpina lappusēm ilgi), ka paliek nogurdinoši un gribas, lai viņš vairāk turētos pie tēmas un sava patīkamākā, grodā stila, kas viņam ļauj jau ar pāris teikumiem radīt brīnumainu un pārsvarā tumšu fantāzijas pasauli, kura ir sasodīti pārliecinoša un visaptveroša, un ticama.
Sižetiski, protams, beigās gan nonākam līdz lielajam finālam, bet pārsvarā stāsti ir talantīga, bet paslinka burvja parastās ikdienas (sēdēt bārā un sūknēt aliņu, ja vien kāds neiztraucē, bet lielākoties iztraucē gan) un tusiņu, vai kvestu izklāsti. Labie stāsti ir tiešām ļoti, ļoti labi, un ir žēl, ka grāmata beigusies. Un es noteikti neatteiktos izlasīt kādu turpinājumu vai ko līdzīgu. Tāpēc nosvēros par labu dāsnumam vērtējumā.
“But the thing about good decisions is that making them exclusively turns out, curiously, to be the worst decision a person can make; it leads to ruination, to a business-casual existence, to eating takeout and watching network sitcoms.”
Atšķirībā no vairāk ierastā fantāzijas grāmatu stila, kur pasaule, tās noteikumi un apdzīvotāji tiek izzīmēti visnotaļ smalki, daudz laika un lappušu veltot tam, “kas ar ko ko darīja, kāpēc, kad un kur”, Polaņskis lasītāju iemet mūsdienu Ņujorkā (kuru visi ir redzējuši vismaz kino), iedod mutīgu galveno varoni, vārdā M, par kuru līdz grāmatas beigām varu pateikt tikai, ka viņš ir cilvēkveidīga maģiska būtne, vīrietis (visticamāk - ne eiropeīdās rases), vizuālajā vecumā visticamāk kaut kur ap 30, bet tas ir pilnīgi nejaušs minējums, pagariem tumšiem matiem, šķidru bārdu un slaidas miesasbūves.
Arī grāmata nav viengabalains stāsts par vienu mega piedzīvojumu, bet daudzi dažāda garuma stāsti, kas gan vismaz ir izkārtoti hronoloģiski aptuveni viena gada robežās. Un tas, kas mani klupina pie vērtējuma, ir šo stāstu mainīgā kvalitāte. Ir tādi, kas ir izcili un izcili aizraujoši, un ir tādi, kuros autors sapinas pats savā meistarībā un sapačkā tik daudz lietu vienā rindkopā (un tad tā turpina lappusēm ilgi), ka paliek nogurdinoši un gribas, lai viņš vairāk turētos pie tēmas un sava patīkamākā, grodā stila, kas viņam ļauj jau ar pāris teikumiem radīt brīnumainu un pārsvarā tumšu fantāzijas pasauli, kura ir sasodīti pārliecinoša un visaptveroša, un ticama.
Sižetiski, protams, beigās gan nonākam līdz lielajam finālam, bet pārsvarā stāsti ir talantīga, bet paslinka burvja parastās ikdienas (sēdēt bārā un sūknēt aliņu, ja vien kāds neiztraucē, bet lielākoties iztraucē gan) un tusiņu, vai kvestu izklāsti. Labie stāsti ir tiešām ļoti, ļoti labi, un ir žēl, ka grāmata beigusies. Un es noteikti neatteiktos izlasīt kādu turpinājumu vai ko līdzīgu. Tāpēc nosvēros par labu dāsnumam vērtējumā.
“But the thing about good decisions is that making them exclusively turns out, curiously, to be the worst decision a person can make; it leads to ruination, to a business-casual existence, to eating takeout and watching network sitcoms.”
austra_pro's review against another edition
5.0
Arī pārlasot, šīs grāmatas jaukumi nekur nepazuda - M ir tikpat mutīgs un laisks uz savas dzīves apgrūtināšanu ar jebko - vai tā būtu fantāzijas pasaules glābšana, mācekļu audzināšana vai savas patiesās lomas ieņemšana. Tomēr ik pa laikam nākas savākties uz kādiem varoņdarbiem, dažādu mošķību izsvēpēšanu vai vienkārši šīs jaukās, saburzītās un dzirkstīgās realitātes noturēšanu rāmjos. Reti burvīgs kadrs.
jhstack's review against another edition
4.0
A magical meandering love letter to New York and all of its hidden nooks and crannies and creatures that's worth the read, if just for the devil-may-care attitude of M that recalls a little bit of Harry Dresden. (e-galley from Netgalley)
pavram's review against another edition
4.0
Završim knjigu, posle nekog vremena počnem da razmišljam o oceni. Hoću da dam trojku – ne, premalo. Da li je stvarno? Trojka mi se ponovo čini okej. A onda se setim da je to ipak Polanski.
Omanje skretanje sa teme. U čemu je razlika izmedju njega i devedeset i devet posto pisaca fantastike danas? U tome što on nije pisac fantastike! Barem ne samo fantastike. Čak i kada sam se prvi put sreo sa njime imao sam utisak da on teži ka, odnosno da stremi ka nečemu atipičnom za fantastiku, da je veoma pametan, ali još bitnije (najbitnije) – ambiciozan. Nije mu dovoljno da bude samo kompetentan, mora on da ga zabiberi. Ne plaši se da ga zabiberi. I tako je drugi deo njegove Low Town trilogije jedan od najboljih antiratnih romana koje sam imao prilike da pročitam, a cela trilogija sjajna eksploracija gl. lika.
Nazad na roman o gradu Njujorku i magiji i svemu onome izmedju. Prvo, šta mi se nije dopalo: brojne savremene reference koje će već za par godina biti matore (a ja baš ne volim reference), možda i preveliko preplitanje glasa autora sa glasom glavnog lika (vidi se da je Polanskom, što je i sam istaknuo, ova knjiga veoma, veoma draga; na neki način testament jednog doba njegovog života), pomalo lenj način na koji su odredjena poglavlja napisana. Onda, šta mi se dopalo: forma vinjeta (koja mi se čini da postaje sve učestalija, kako u knjizi, tako i u filmu/seriji), stil, likovi, preplitanje glasa autora sa glasom glavnog lika (mogu biti dve stvari) i upravo to nešto Polanskom karakteristično, nešto opipljivo što ne mogu baš tačno da shvatim već samo da nazrem, tih par nekih (divno osmišljenih i još divnije realizovanih) motiva koji spajaju naizgled nepovezane vinjete. Eto, teško mogu reći da sam uživao, ali još teže mogu reći da nisam.
Volim kada se pisac usudi.
4-
Omanje skretanje sa teme. U čemu je razlika izmedju njega i devedeset i devet posto pisaca fantastike danas? U tome što on nije pisac fantastike! Barem ne samo fantastike. Čak i kada sam se prvi put sreo sa njime imao sam utisak da on teži ka, odnosno da stremi ka nečemu atipičnom za fantastiku, da je veoma pametan, ali još bitnije (najbitnije) – ambiciozan. Nije mu dovoljno da bude samo kompetentan, mora on da ga zabiberi. Ne plaši se da ga zabiberi. I tako je drugi deo njegove Low Town trilogije jedan od najboljih antiratnih romana koje sam imao prilike da pročitam, a cela trilogija sjajna eksploracija gl. lika.
Nazad na roman o gradu Njujorku i magiji i svemu onome izmedju. Prvo, šta mi se nije dopalo: brojne savremene reference koje će već za par godina biti matore (a ja baš ne volim reference), možda i preveliko preplitanje glasa autora sa glasom glavnog lika (vidi se da je Polanskom, što je i sam istaknuo, ova knjiga veoma, veoma draga; na neki način testament jednog doba njegovog života), pomalo lenj način na koji su odredjena poglavlja napisana. Onda, šta mi se dopalo: forma vinjeta (koja mi se čini da postaje sve učestalija, kako u knjizi, tako i u filmu/seriji), stil, likovi, preplitanje glasa autora sa glasom glavnog lika (mogu biti dve stvari) i upravo to nešto Polanskom karakteristično, nešto opipljivo što ne mogu baš tačno da shvatim već samo da nazrem, tih par nekih (divno osmišljenih i još divnije realizovanih) motiva koji spajaju naizgled nepovezane vinjete. Eto, teško mogu reći da sam uživao, ali još teže mogu reći da nisam.
Volim kada se pisac usudi.
4-
susssu's review
3.0
3,3 stars
This book has an interesting premise, but I'm too much of a plot reader to get much out of this this. At first, the writing style also rubbed me the wrong way, but that's something that grew on me and almost makes me want to read something else from this author. But not right away. I kept waiting for the story to pull all the random threads of the story together and make me care, but in the end this remained a pretty emotionless short story collection of an imaginary New York. Possibly newyorkers will find this more enjoyable, but this random Finn mostly found it lackluster.
This book has an interesting premise, but I'm too much of a plot reader to get much out of this this. At first, the writing style also rubbed me the wrong way, but that's something that grew on me and almost makes me want to read something else from this author. But not right away. I kept waiting for the story to pull all the random threads of the story together and make me care, but in the end this remained a pretty emotionless short story collection of an imaginary New York. Possibly newyorkers will find this more enjoyable, but this random Finn mostly found it lackluster.
bigchipper's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm...what an interesting book. I guess you'd call it urban fantasy. My best description of it would be equal parts The Magicians (sans the school and Narnia bits), Less Than Zero, and maybe a splash of Bill Burroughs/Kerouac blended into hipster vignettes. Oh, there may some horror elements too.
The book follows the protagonist "M", an immortal hipster who makes a long overdue pilgrimage back to Brooklyn. Each chapter is a random short story of his interactions with other "magical" beings in the greater NY area and what I'd call random pocket universes that they inhabit. Overall, an interesting and fun read. Polansky's a good writer who doesn't take himself too seriously.
The book follows the protagonist "M", an immortal hipster who makes a long overdue pilgrimage back to Brooklyn. Each chapter is a random short story of his interactions with other "magical" beings in the greater NY area and what I'd call random pocket universes that they inhabit. Overall, an interesting and fun read. Polansky's a good writer who doesn't take himself too seriously.
dinaana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
debraisretired's review
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
More a collection of short stories. Creatively written but occasionally dark and very much a hip bro vibe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug use, Gore, Blood, and Toxic friendship
riverwise's review against another edition
3.0
After five strong secondary world fantasy novels, this is a change of direction for Daniel Polansky. It's firmly set in a modern New York of hipsters and craft beers, but also one where the supernatural is very real. There are pirates on the Gowanus Canal, a subway ride through the circles of Hell, and goblin markets where you can buy your heart's desire. The sense of place is one of the strengths of the book. We see it all, from Wall Street financier luxury to grubby dive bars. Our hero is the almost nameless M, a magician without any visible means of support who nevertheless has a knack for navigating the city and its denizens to his advantage. If he's between homes, an apartment sitting gig will open up, if he's thirsty someone will buy him a drink. His insouciant cockiness puts me in mind of no one so much as John Constantine. In fact, there's a vaguely edgy, vaguely hip quality to the whole book that's reminiscent of mid 90s Vertigo comics.
It's an engaging read, but it's quite lightweight. I enjoyed it a lot while I was reading it, but I'm not sure how long it will linger in the mind. The lack of gravity is emphasised by the structure. It's more a series of vignettes, episodic adventures of M and his friends, than it is a complete novel. There is a loosely overarching story of two rival magical leaders, but it's mostly background stuff until the end. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that Polansky had been writing these stories as palate cleaning diversions between his other novels and has now lashed them together as his next book. That might be a good way to approach reading it, taking a couple of stories at a time and then breaking for something else before picking it up again.
A City Dreaming is a fun and enjoyable book, just don't expect it to change your life.
(ARC received from Netgalley)
It's an engaging read, but it's quite lightweight. I enjoyed it a lot while I was reading it, but I'm not sure how long it will linger in the mind. The lack of gravity is emphasised by the structure. It's more a series of vignettes, episodic adventures of M and his friends, than it is a complete novel. There is a loosely overarching story of two rival magical leaders, but it's mostly background stuff until the end. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that Polansky had been writing these stories as palate cleaning diversions between his other novels and has now lashed them together as his next book. That might be a good way to approach reading it, taking a couple of stories at a time and then breaking for something else before picking it up again.
A City Dreaming is a fun and enjoyable book, just don't expect it to change your life.
(ARC received from Netgalley)