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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Again, this 2nd in a series mystery kept me at the edge of my seat.
I continue to enjoy spending time with Strike and Robin. I particularly enjoyed learning more of Robin's backstory, and that she got to be more a part of the action (how cool is it that she took a defensive driving course and is a badass behind the wheel?). Still a little frustrated with all of the mysterious "then he put it all together" moments, but I'm not a huge mystery reader, so I don't know if that's normal, or particular to these books. I'll take a little break and then on to book 3!
I liked this better upon second reading. Same with the Cuckoo's Calling. I was able to keep better track of the many, many characters.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I like to think that some the characters in this book are thinly veiled allusions to authors Rowling knows in real life, in which case would make her a shade GODDESS
That shit I live for
That shit I live for
My least favorite of the series but infinitely readable. JK unwraps characters that are world weary and complicated without every becoming pedantic.
It was hard to keep track of the characters in the story and in the Bombyx story and remember what was said about who...but in general a good read.
The second Cormoran Strike is much darker than the first. I enjoyed the interplay between Strike and Robin, but there was a wealth of new characters (representing Strike’s improved caseload), most of who were unlikeable. So this was much harder to get into, and I understand why so many put it down. It does redeem itself to some extent, however, and I’m glad that I made it to the end.
Wildly mixed feelings. I had to stop several times to rant about this book before I could continue, and in the end I don't think any of my rants are worth rehashing here. Rowling is very (very) good at showing characterization through action and interaction, and the strongest parts of this are the character moments. The extensive meta on the press, the publishing business, and transformative works is also pretty great. The plot is not. I also had a hell of a hard time with some of the disability politics and denial concerning Strike as an amputee and user of a prosthetic and sometimes unwilling user of a cane, not to mention the image of a person who needs a cane for balance using it to defend themselves from attack. I can tell you from experience that you brace yourself with the cane and use your available arm/leg for defense -- or, you know, flee. Otherwise, you end up on the ground like a turtle on its back, all too vulnerable. Yes, this is a huge personal pet peeve of mine as a disabled person, but I just can't see an amputee swinging their cane instead of bracing and throwing a punch.
Anyway. All in all I wish I'd either liked it more or hated it more. It's falling in that horrible ambivalent middle area where I'm unsatisfied but still at least partially charmed. So frustrating.
Queer-interest tag for complex and well-done transwoman character, as well as other incidental queer people. Disability tag for a great many characters with sundry mental and physical disabilities and chronic ailments, really brilliantly debunking the nasty old trope of the evil cripple (TM).
Anyway. All in all I wish I'd either liked it more or hated it more. It's falling in that horrible ambivalent middle area where I'm unsatisfied but still at least partially charmed. So frustrating.
Queer-interest tag for complex and well-done transwoman character, as well as other incidental queer people. Disability tag for a great many characters with sundry mental and physical disabilities and chronic ailments, really brilliantly debunking the nasty old trope of the evil cripple (TM).