Scan barcode
grayjay's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great second reading. Knowing the premise going in, makes the book completely different.
rives's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book only really picked up in pace halfway. There's a lot of world-building going on and I only grasped the scale (and consequences) of it halfway through as well, but it was much more interesting than the "mystery" itself.
leopitt's review against another edition
3.0
Mind-bending, unique premise; not quite matched by the story telling.
sxh62's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
amandaaaaa's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a slow start for me. Honestly, if I hadn't been determined to get through it, I would have quit.
I'm glad I didn't. Once I got into it, it consumed me -- I wanted to be reading it all the time, I wanted to be telling everyone about it. And it ended at the perfect place; I didn't feel like there were any threads left hanging.
HOWEVER. If you're the type of person who needs to know everything, this book is not for you. The central conceit -- that Ul Qoma and Beszel exist in the same place but in different places -- is never fully explained. Truly, it does not make logical sense. It's left up to you to figure out how it's actually pieced together, what it looks like, how it works. I don't mind this. I was able to suspend my disbelief far enough that I simply trusted that it was, not worrying about HOW it was. If that sounds frustrating to you, if your first response to explanation of two cities in the same space is "How?" rather than "OK," this book is not for you. Otherwise, it's a very good read.
I'm glad I didn't. Once I got into it, it consumed me -- I wanted to be reading it all the time, I wanted to be telling everyone about it. And it ended at the perfect place; I didn't feel like there were any threads left hanging.
HOWEVER. If you're the type of person who needs to know everything, this book is not for you. The central conceit -- that Ul Qoma and Beszel exist in the same place but in different places -- is never fully explained. Truly, it does not make logical sense. It's left up to you to figure out how it's actually pieced together, what it looks like, how it works. I don't mind this. I was able to suspend my disbelief far enough that I simply trusted that it was, not worrying about HOW it was. If that sounds frustrating to you, if your first response to explanation of two cities in the same space is "How?" rather than "OK," this book is not for you. Otherwise, it's a very good read.
bytomquinn's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
nekokat's review against another edition
5.0
This book is phenomenal. It's basically perfect.
Miéville constructs the world of the two cities around one operative metaphor, one fantastic element -- one that is utterly unbelievable, yet so deeply-ingrained in the fabric of the two cities that you begin to take it for granted yourself. He illustrates how the divide between the two cities plays itself out, in small ways and large, skillfully exploring the consequences and building up the reader's understanding, bit by bit. By the time Miéville's finished with you, you've internalized the taboo, almost as if you've in fact become an inhabitant of Besźel or Ul Qoma.
This is vital because the ending, the way it all plays out, only makes sense from within the metaphor, even as it illustrates the tenuousness of it all.
This is one of those books that will make you see the world differently, in a way that cannot be unseen.
Miéville constructs the world of the two cities around one operative metaphor, one fantastic element -- one that is utterly unbelievable, yet so deeply-ingrained in the fabric of the two cities that you begin to take it for granted yourself. He illustrates how the divide between the two cities plays itself out, in small ways and large, skillfully exploring the consequences and building up the reader's understanding, bit by bit. By the time Miéville's finished with you, you've internalized the taboo, almost as if you've in fact become an inhabitant of Besźel or Ul Qoma.
This is vital because the ending, the way it all plays out, only makes sense from within the metaphor, even as it illustrates the tenuousness of it all.
This is one of those books that will make you see the world differently, in a way that cannot be unseen.
haligon_ian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
riskeytaker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hippahop's review against another edition
3.0
- all the classic parts of a noir, even the over explanation by the detective who figures everything out
- boundaries only work if everyone believes it works and respects the entity that enforces them
- truly panicked when he breached, the description was well written
- people "unsee" what they don't want to acknowledge, I'm sure that can be applied at multiple levels in the real world
- the economic differences between the cities is hinted at sometimes but Dhatt also says something along the lines of the cities go back and forth in terms of who is "ahead" so unsure if it's just a point in time that ul qoma happens to be better off
- boundaries only work if everyone believes it works and respects the entity that enforces them
- truly panicked when he breached, the description was well written
- people "unsee" what they don't want to acknowledge, I'm sure that can be applied at multiple levels in the real world
- the economic differences between the cities is hinted at sometimes but Dhatt also says something along the lines of the cities go back and forth in terms of who is "ahead" so unsure if it's just a point in time that ul qoma happens to be better off