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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Well, I love Drew Magary's writing for GQ and Deadspin and all. This book, though -- I'm just going to chalk it up to not being my style. Shame.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
holy crap LOL. pretty good book - definitely a cute short fantasy read that wraps up almost a little too well? 3 stars because while i liked it, i don't think it stuck with me as much as other books that i read. still a fun read.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ben, a typical middle class suburban family man, gets lost in the woods while hiking on a business trip. He soons finds himself in an isolated, timeless world, sarcastically described as a “Mennonite wizard land”. This alternate Pennsylvania is populated by twisted sights, people, and creatures linked to his life experiences: his high school principal, an anthropomorphic crab (Ben’s a Marylander), and a dog that played a significant role in his childhood.
This story has some edge to it and initially feels like a thriller as Ben struggles to understand his predicament while chased by faceless enemies. It eventually settles into the time-honored tale of a main character coming to terms with his life choices. Like Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”, Ben revisits moments from the past that help him understand who he is and what he wants from life. This structure is intertwined with his adventures through a hostile environment, as Ben engages in combat with the demons preventing him from returning home. These adventures closely resemble the video games of his youth; Ben must follow a rigid path through obstacle after obstacle, and success is met with well-timed rewards that revive him to full strength.
I think the story doesn’t quite make the case for Ben needing this radical life experience -- he doesn’t seem unhappy in a way that would warrant the need for a dramatic rebirth. Despite that, I enjoyed its casual exploration of the philosophical mysteries of free will and self-determination. Ben also struggles to find balance between rage at his situation and acceptance of its reality. Like a mediocre superhero movie, the book’s action scenes are necessary, but they sometimes stretch out too long. These moments push the story along, but I lost interest in them as the story progressed. The book is short, so even slow moments pass quickly.
Not an essential read, but at only 280 pages it’s a decent choice if you’re looking for something light with a streak of depth.
This story has some edge to it and initially feels like a thriller as Ben struggles to understand his predicament while chased by faceless enemies. It eventually settles into the time-honored tale of a main character coming to terms with his life choices. Like Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”, Ben revisits moments from the past that help him understand who he is and what he wants from life. This structure is intertwined with his adventures through a hostile environment, as Ben engages in combat with the demons preventing him from returning home. These adventures closely resemble the video games of his youth; Ben must follow a rigid path through obstacle after obstacle, and success is met with well-timed rewards that revive him to full strength.
I think the story doesn’t quite make the case for Ben needing this radical life experience -- he doesn’t seem unhappy in a way that would warrant the need for a dramatic rebirth. Despite that, I enjoyed its casual exploration of the philosophical mysteries of free will and self-determination. Ben also struggles to find balance between rage at his situation and acceptance of its reality. Like a mediocre superhero movie, the book’s action scenes are necessary, but they sometimes stretch out too long. These moments push the story along, but I lost interest in them as the story progressed. The book is short, so even slow moments pass quickly.
Not an essential read, but at only 280 pages it’s a decent choice if you’re looking for something light with a streak of depth.
A mindf@#k joyride through an unexpected metaphysical thrillscape. Part Hitchiker's Guide; part horror novel; part classic hero's journey; with a bit of Narnia and old world fairy tale mixed in. This story is a collage of settings and characters that weave together into something that is at times simultaneously terrifying and hilarious. Loved it!
A man travels on a path with random obstacles and puzzles. At some point the randomness is numbing; there are no stakes. It feels like a video game. It was funny, though, intermittently. And inventive for what it was.
best ending i’ve read since the last best ending i read