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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This was a very strange, very ambitious, very literary book. There were times I really liked and admired it, and there were other times I found myself bogged down and confused. In the end, it's good writing and an interesting story, but I'm not sure I truly LIKED it. It felt kind of like jazz. Impressive, but not that much fun to listen to.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is hard to review, because I thought I was in for a story much different than what it turned out to be. I was expecting more intrigue, mystery, and much bigger focus on the ill-fated teenagers who played Trace Italian.
What it turned out to be was a slow paced, highly descriptive study of loneliness, life choices, suicide, and relationships.
It was interesting, but I didn't love it. Or even like it, I don't think. I don't know how much of that is rooted in the fact that I was expecting something much different than I got.
I enjoyed learning about the world of Trace Italian and was most engaged in the book when it was entrenched in that part of Sean's life. And I'll admit it felt very unlike anything I've ever read. So worth a read if you are willing to delve into the worlds of RPGs, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and meditations on relationships between parents and children.
Not worth a read if you are expecting the focus to be on the deaths, the trial, and the game creators motivations and involvement. This is not the story of those events, but the slow, detailed, and blurred story of what led to them.
What it turned out to be was a slow paced, highly descriptive study of loneliness, life choices, suicide, and relationships.
It was interesting, but I didn't love it. Or even like it, I don't think. I don't know how much of that is rooted in the fact that I was expecting something much different than I got.
I enjoyed learning about the world of Trace Italian and was most engaged in the book when it was entrenched in that part of Sean's life. And I'll admit it felt very unlike anything I've ever read. So worth a read if you are willing to delve into the worlds of RPGs, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and meditations on relationships between parents and children.
Not worth a read if you are expecting the focus to be on the deaths, the trial, and the game creators motivations and involvement. This is not the story of those events, but the slow, detailed, and blurred story of what led to them.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A book like nothing else I've read. An old-style game designer (gaming by mail) recovers slowly from a devastating injury while also faced with a tragedy suffered by a pair players of his game. Mr Darnielle can write, and I'll be on the lookout for future works.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was a very different read for me. I think the idea of a text based Mail in game sounds so fun in the era where Mail is only bills. So I found myself there for that mostly. Sean is such a contrasting character. I know that he almost died, and that his life was changed so much from it, but his change in character I think seems different than I would expect. I know some people find fault in him having seemingly zero reason for suicide, but I think it is obvious that he has something very very wrong. I think worse than what I actually expected? The inability to tell what reality is, the way he just does things compulsively to see the different paths. I think it actually mirrors perfectly with the idea of someone who could create a game like that. Also the parallels between him not knowing what is real, and the death later on from his game, and the players not knowing what was real was interesting. I think that I can’t give this book a higher score just because even though I found it interesting. It was not an enjoyable read. Like some sad things can be a catharsis. But this did not have that either.
It was an easy read, very down to earth language and kept me interested the whole book through. But when I finished it, I didn't feel accomplished at all. I don't think I really took anything away from it. And that was a little disappointing. But Darnielle is a great writer and love lyrical way that his story came together.
Some really great imagery of deserts, large monoliths looming in the soul that cast shadows, and lots of Conan lore. Unfortunately it didn't all come together as nicely as I would have hoped. I still really enjoyed this novel. If Darnielle had dove a little deeper into his subject matter, it would have been an oustanding book.