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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Hard to rate. The writing is beautiful, for 2/3 of the book, if you like prose poetry and can tolerate sentences that do not technically make sense. Complete fever dream, of course. The last third was heavy with swearing, gave me a little Ulysses and a little Beat movement, sometimes entertaining and sometimes annoying and over the top.
It took me twice as long to finish this book as I would have expected for its length. Not easy, often confusing, but I think it’s wonderfully written and thought provoking. Lots of sentences that really struck me hard. It’s a journey.
It took me twice as long to finish this book as I would have expected for its length. Not easy, often confusing, but I think it’s wonderfully written and thought provoking. Lots of sentences that really struck me hard. It’s a journey.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
soft dnf around ~100 pages
Once I read this had a huge Lowry section I was turned off. I'm just not interested in him
Once I read this had a huge Lowry section I was turned off. I'm just not interested in him
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My brain is broken so it took me forever to read this but what a ride!!! The last part was so uncomfortable to read and I’m not talking about the cannibalism part. Truly had to fight back the strongest “ain’t reading all that. im happy for you tho. or sorry that happened.” urge I’ve ever felt. Cannot wait to read everyone’s theories!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The first 304 pages were fine and then the pov changed and it became impossible to read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a very VanderMeer book, but I don't think one of my favourites. There are 3 parts, focussing on different time periods. I enjoyed the first two but really struggled with the third part from the perspective of Lowry who is extremely unlikeable and I found jarringly sweary. I didn't find the other main character 'Old Jim' particularly likeable either although he was at least sympathetic in a similar way to 'Control' in Authority. I found following the plot threads harder in this book than the earlier ones too, and that's after having reread them all recently. I do just find the whole world and story of Area X absolutely fascinating and so I enjoyed this book mainly for uncovering the mystery of it! Despite my lower rating for this installation, I can see myself rereading this and potentially enjoying it more second time around. I'm glad VanderMeer keeps adding to this series as each book feels so different and weird in it's own way, but still working together to show all angles of the enigma that is Area X. Recommended for fans, particularly if you liked Authority as here we are catching more of a glimpse of Central (rather than Southern Reach in Authority) and the crazy bureaucracy full of people on power trips making questionable decisions.