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ephemerawoman's review against another edition
4.0
Having read this book I feel kind of stupid that I stumbled across this quite randomly (from a Buzzfeed article iirc). Part noir, part urban fantasy, part religious allegory (possibly) and rich with humour this is the kind of fantastic novel you want to push into people's hands and say "seriously, you need to read this".
With his new book The Ballad of Black Tom coming out in February, I'm hoping that more people in the UK will come across and embrace his work. Cracking stuff.
With his new book The Ballad of Black Tom coming out in February, I'm hoping that more people in the UK will come across and embrace his work. Cracking stuff.
kelleymay's review against another edition
4.0
"Doubt is a big machine. It grinds out the delusions of women and men."
Was pretty good, kinda wacky but reminded me a lot of Murakami's, "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World."
This book has so many elements. Cults, religion, folklore, secret societies, drugs, and introspection.
I enjoyed the main character and even though the ending was strange, I thought it was pretty satisfying.
***SPOILER BELOW***:
I thought one of the points of the book is how easily people can get swept up in cults and religious fanaticism. Ricky grows up in a cult and in adulthood he joins basically another one, The Library. He's disillusioned by both, both of them ending in violence and almost killing him. In the very end, he's on his way to starting a new cult with Adele, whether he realizes it or not.
Was pretty good, kinda wacky but reminded me a lot of Murakami's, "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World."
This book has so many elements. Cults, religion, folklore, secret societies, drugs, and introspection.
I enjoyed the main character and even though the ending was strange, I thought it was pretty satisfying.
***SPOILER BELOW***:
I thought one of the points of the book is how easily people can get swept up in cults and religious fanaticism. Ricky grows up in a cult and in adulthood he joins basically another one, The Library. He's disillusioned by both, both of them ending in violence and almost killing him. In the very end, he's on his way to starting a new cult with Adele, whether he realizes it or not.
david_fu's review
2.0
the most perfunctory prose imaginable melded to a half-compelling insight every fifty pages. it's difficult to feel any real way about books like this
quinchoosito's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
skoore's review
3.0
I finally finish reading the book. The book had a great beginning,an not so good middle, but ok ending. I though i would never finish reading it. The book is good until like the beginning of the second half of the book. Them it just drags. I gave it 3 stars because i was glad the book had an ending. I bet it could of kept going and going with the story line.
manek_m's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jonjeffryes's review
3.0
This book was definitely different...recovering heroin addict Ricky Rice gets recruited to work as an "Unlikely Scholar" at the Washburn Library and ends up facing a conspiracy with Angels that look like demons, male impregnation, and religious cults. The book tries to use horror (or sci-fi) conventions and reach literary ends....unfortunately both the horror and the literariness come off mediocre. Some interesting thoughts and definitely points for thinking outside the box, but not nearly as good as the jacket cover blurbs made out.
jennhamrick's review
1.0
I tried this book in both paperback and audio book. I made it a bit farther in audiobook but was still not able to finish it. It felt like it took a very long time to get anywhere and once there it took even longer to get to the next place. The cult and religious content did activate some trauma being a survivor of abuse in both of those settings, and I would caution other survivors about some of the content in this book.