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kaylacreviews's review
4.0
21 Grams by M. Regan blew my mind, and not just because of the splendid metaphysical elements. When I started reading 21 Grams, I didn't know that it was actually a collection of three novelettes. All three were connected by the Operator, the Godwin, and the common themes of love and grief. Each tale was set in a different time period and introduced a new cast of characters (with the exception, fortunately, of the Operator). Because I expected a more traditional novella structure (one story, not three), my reading experience was jarring. I became so invested in the first story that when it ended, I was bereft. The following stories seemed rushed in comparison. That said, I'd be more than willing to read the whole work again. Now that I know how the novella pans out overall, I'll enjoy it more.
M. Regan's prose was beautiful, eerie, complex, and emotionally evocative. 21 Grams was by no means an easy read. Sometimes the prose and dialogue were slightly hard to follow. Nevertheless, I found the author's style of storytelling fresh and absorbing. M. Regan excelled at creating a consistently unsettling, mysterious atmosphere throughout each story. My favorite part of 21 Grams was the recurring character of the Operator. They were delightfully creepy and thought-provoking. The deeper my understanding of them grew, the more intrigued I was by them. 21 Grams was so unique that I can't think of any books like it. Suffice it to say that if you’re a fan of philosophical, gothic literature that provides great LGBTQ+ representation, I strongly suggest you check out 21 Grams by M. Regan.
(Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book from Silver Dagger Book Tours for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)
Trigger Warning: This work contains some gore, a vivid description of gender dysphoria, and other dark themes, including grief and murder.
M. Regan's prose was beautiful, eerie, complex, and emotionally evocative. 21 Grams was by no means an easy read. Sometimes the prose and dialogue were slightly hard to follow. Nevertheless, I found the author's style of storytelling fresh and absorbing. M. Regan excelled at creating a consistently unsettling, mysterious atmosphere throughout each story. My favorite part of 21 Grams was the recurring character of the Operator. They were delightfully creepy and thought-provoking. The deeper my understanding of them grew, the more intrigued I was by them. 21 Grams was so unique that I can't think of any books like it. Suffice it to say that if you’re a fan of philosophical, gothic literature that provides great LGBTQ+ representation, I strongly suggest you check out 21 Grams by M. Regan.
(Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book from Silver Dagger Book Tours for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own and are honest and unbiased.)
Trigger Warning: This work contains some gore, a vivid description of gender dysphoria, and other dark themes, including grief and murder.
brianamorganbooks's review
4.0
I’ve been itching to read more dark sci-fi books, and 21 Grams fits the bill nicely. If you like Black Mirror and/or anything written by Philip K. Dick, you’ll enjoy this book. Let me start off by saying that this isn’t the book version of the 2003 film. It does, however, highlight a similar motif.
21 Grams was published by Timber Ghost Press in July 2021. The title of the book refers to the alleged weight of a human soul, as determined by a 1907 scientific study. In it, a Massachusetts physician named Duncan MacDougall weighed bodies before and after death to determine how much mass had been lost at death. Although this scientific study is widely regarded as flawed and has not been repeated, this weight of a soul persists to this day as seen in various literary and pop culture references.
This book, 21 Grams, is beautifully written. The prose is a little more florid than I prefer, but it did not diminish my enjoyment of the book as a whole. Although I found some concepts and imagery difficult to latch onto, upon further reading and review, I made sense of them and developed an appreciation for them.
21 Grams consists of different parts, including “21 Pages,” “21 Bytes,” and “21 Minutes.” Although each tale presented in the novella is unique, they are all tied together by a stunning dark truth (which I won’t be spoiling here). If you enjoy philosophy and deep discussions of existential and metaphysical ideas, you’ll love every second of this book.
I also appreciated the queer representation. This book includes queer characters struggling with gender and gender dysphoria, sexuality, and more. Everything is handled well and with the utmost respect, while still feeling true to life and relevant to the story. I can’t say enough good things about the representation in this book.
21 Grams was published by Timber Ghost Press in July 2021. The title of the book refers to the alleged weight of a human soul, as determined by a 1907 scientific study. In it, a Massachusetts physician named Duncan MacDougall weighed bodies before and after death to determine how much mass had been lost at death. Although this scientific study is widely regarded as flawed and has not been repeated, this weight of a soul persists to this day as seen in various literary and pop culture references.
This book, 21 Grams, is beautifully written. The prose is a little more florid than I prefer, but it did not diminish my enjoyment of the book as a whole. Although I found some concepts and imagery difficult to latch onto, upon further reading and review, I made sense of them and developed an appreciation for them.
21 Grams consists of different parts, including “21 Pages,” “21 Bytes,” and “21 Minutes.” Although each tale presented in the novella is unique, they are all tied together by a stunning dark truth (which I won’t be spoiling here). If you enjoy philosophy and deep discussions of existential and metaphysical ideas, you’ll love every second of this book.
I also appreciated the queer representation. This book includes queer characters struggling with gender and gender dysphoria, sexuality, and more. Everything is handled well and with the utmost respect, while still feeling true to life and relevant to the story. I can’t say enough good things about the representation in this book.
stefaniewhat's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Gripping language, snappy dialogue, and beautiful descriptions in this wistful-yet-sinister tale of an Operator and the visitors who come pleading them for help.
catgirl_luna's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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