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katherineshawwrites's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
I knew this would be an unusual and experimental novella going into the book, but even with my mind as open as possible, I must admit I didn't really enjoy it.
Perhaps it is a little too surreal for me, but I was really hoping for an a-ha moment at the end when, at least in some subtle way, the metaphor at play would be revealed, but it never happened. Certain elements were very intriguing, and there is some great imagery and wordplay in places, but I find it wandered off too much in the final third or so for my liking, and became a chore to read. Perhaps that was the point, that we see the main character's mind stretch further and further from reality and the hint of plot that we've been given throughout, but I found it unsatisfying, personally.
I see others have rated this book very highly, so I can assume Calibration 74 just isn't for me. If you're wanting to read something on the very surreal end of magical realism, don't mind leaving with more questions than you went in with, and are interested in poetic stream-of-consciousness fiction, give it a try, and see what you think.
Perhaps it is a little too surreal for me, but I was really hoping for an a-ha moment at the end when, at least in some subtle way, the metaphor at play would be revealed, but it never happened. Certain elements were very intriguing, and there is some great imagery and wordplay in places, but I find it wandered off too much in the final third or so for my liking, and became a chore to read. Perhaps that was the point, that we see the main character's mind stretch further and further from reality and the hint of plot that we've been given throughout, but I found it unsatisfying, personally.
I see others have rated this book very highly, so I can assume Calibration 74 just isn't for me. If you're wanting to read something on the very surreal end of magical realism, don't mind leaving with more questions than you went in with, and are interested in poetic stream-of-consciousness fiction, give it a try, and see what you think.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
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