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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
The first part had a bit too much technobabble but set up an interesting world that I couldn't wait to explore.
Nell promised to be an interesting character and I was excited for her to enter the big stage. Secondary characters had interesting motives and I was looking forward to explore them in more depth.
And then came the second part. None of the exciting things happened. Nell's story mostly happened through that gods-be-damned Story-Within-A-Story that I was skimming though most of the time because it took up too much space. I expected a complex but entertaining story (given the remaining pages didn't leave much space for complicated storylines) but it muddled through some stuff I stopped caring about, and by the end I was skimming pages and just wanted it to be finished. Too bad, I'd have loved some "Post Cyberpunk Neo-Victorianism" or whatever its genre is. But what started as interesting ideas ended in a mess I almost wished I didn't bother to finish.
Nell promised to be an interesting character and I was excited for her to enter the big stage. Secondary characters had interesting motives and I was looking forward to explore them in more depth.
And then came the second part. None of the exciting things happened. Nell's story mostly happened through that gods-be-damned Story-Within-A-Story that I was skimming though most of the time because it took up too much space. I expected a complex but entertaining story (given the remaining pages didn't leave much space for complicated storylines) but it muddled through some stuff I stopped caring about, and by the end I was skimming pages and just wanted it to be finished. Too bad, I'd have loved some "Post Cyberpunk Neo-Victorianism" or whatever its genre is. But what started as interesting ideas ended in a mess I almost wished I didn't bother to finish.
Finished this on the 3rd try. I needed to be sure there wasn't something in the ending that would have redeemed this book. There wasn't.
The premise very interesting and the plot is fairly good - until about 3/4 of the way through. The excessive use of made up words and difficult to parse prose with several instances of inconsistencies was irritating. I got the feeling the author was being forced to write this on a schedule and just spewed out verbiage to try to sound erudite.
Giving my copy to the library.
The premise very interesting and the plot is fairly good - until about 3/4 of the way through. The excessive use of made up words and difficult to parse prose with several instances of inconsistencies was irritating. I got the feeling the author was being forced to write this on a schedule and just spewed out verbiage to try to sound erudite.
Giving my copy to the library.
Well, that went downhill quickly. I feel like I'm repeating a few of the other low star reviews here, but the plot and the characters spiral very out of control at the end and land in a very weird bad place. I know this was written in the mid-90s, but I'm still rather surprised at its acclaim. Stephenson's tongue-in-cheek style seems very at odds with the attempts at realism where he tries to justify how things ended up in the way that they are. Trying to justify things like a nation centered around Victorian culture, though at many times it just ends up being a [b:Great Expectations|2623|Great Expectations|Charles Dickens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631687432l/2623._SY75_.jpg|2612809] pastiche. As a fan of 19th century inspired Science Fiction, I found this to be fine. I prefer more substantial fusions like [b:A Civil Campaign|61899|A Civil Campaign (Vorkosigan Saga, #12)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924032l/61899._SY75_.jpg|1093445] and the excellent [b:Hyperion|77566|Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1)|Dan Simmons|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405546838l/77566._SY75_.jpg|1383900]. This novel has some curious similarities to [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] with the solving virtual learning puzzles/lessons that lead to solving a conflict. Stephenson's future also seems somewhat ethnostatey... I did like the nanotech, though apparently Stephenson didn't anticipate Wifi, which leads to shit like rape being a plot point... Ugh, big metaphors played out in a more stylized future can work, but I think I just don't jive with Stephenson's style as neither this nor [b:Snow Crash|40651883|Snow Crash|Neal Stephenson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589842551l/40651883._SX50_.jpg|493634] have worked for me.
Thanks to a recommendation by a friend, my faith in Stephenson is restored. After finishing Snow Crash, I enthusiastically tried to find the same irreverence and grit in other books by the author, only to find myself struggling to stay interested. Diamond Age is wonderful and subversive, if sometimes a bit too contained in its conspiracy.
I loved this book and the concept of the Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. We're always looking for ways to better ourselves and our family and this book digs into how people might approach that. There are many adventures along the way and how each experience changes characters and the role education plays as well.
Side note: I'd love to create that fictional book in real life :D
Side note: I'd love to create that fictional book in real life :D
Some very good parts along with some very bad parts. Even though I overall did not like it, I can’t deny that it isn’t a highly memorable read. I can recall major plot points and small character actions despite it being a long time since I’ve read it.
The audio book was fantastic. Lost one star because the ending, while mostly satisfying, felt like driving full-speed into a brick wall. “We’re really moving along now! Awesome!...The end.”
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this book. Highly creative and insanely detailed world building. There were plenty of moments where I laughed out loud and moments where I was on the edge of my seat and had to keep reading.
I will say the vocabulary is pretty dense and often seems unnecessary. I learned a lot of new words.
I will say the vocabulary is pretty dense and often seems unnecessary. I learned a lot of new words.
This was one of the best books I have ever read. It is so good that I may reread it again now.