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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I read this all in one day. It's a super fast, satisfying read. If you enjoyed Little Eve, Sundial, and The Last House on Needless Street, you'll enjoy the latest puzzling novel from Ward.
This is not for people who enjoy a straight forward, matter of fact story. There are twists and turns galore that will have you seeking answers and wanting to get to the end. And I was not disappointed. Like all of Ward's novels, I've put this aside to re-read at a later date because her books just work that way.
This is not for people who enjoy a straight forward, matter of fact story. There are twists and turns galore that will have you seeking answers and wanting to get to the end. And I was not disappointed. Like all of Ward's novels, I've put this aside to re-read at a later date because her books just work that way.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
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
I was really, really into this book for the first 2/3 of it. The final third then spiraled into a hot, confusing mess that I still do not understand.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What starts out as a second chance summer, an opportunity to reinvent, takes a series of wild turns Wilder could only dream of. For the first time, he has friends. He's close to his crush. He's learning more about himself and a different way of life. Maybe even his parents marriage will get better! The only problem is that some dreams are nightmares. This one comes with bodies.
In any other book, the things that make "Looking Glass Sound" stand out so much would absolutely irritate the heck out of me. Somehow Ward is able to weave the overlaps, the layering, and a multitude of perspectives in a way that made me want to keep going instead of being frustrated me for carrying on what would have seemed to be a solid narrative. There were so many times that in other novels we'd be at the end or the big twist or reveal...and yet you hang on.
She also does a wonderful job dancing with magical realism. While I adore fantasy, this is one of the hardest subgenres for me to really enjoy as whatever way it balances tends to make one side of the narrative feel underdeveloped. Not true in this case. Even to the end, you're left wondering how much can be attributed to supernatural elements or if it's all a matter of psychology and potentially other health issues.
There was one thing that held this back from being utterly spectacular. The first larger segment doesn't so much overstay its welcome as that it feels the weakest written. Much of that came from the dialogue and thought process of a character who's supposed to be closer than seventeen than his sixteen at the start. I honestly wondered until it was explicit and restated is this really a later teenager or is this middle school/early high school. Even though some accounting can be done for the book starting in the 80s, I still had a hard time believing some of Wilder's concerns, way parents spoke as and he to them, when in a beat later it was more on track.
Despite that hitch, and a few minor things I could pick at being a Mainer myself, the way this book was executed more than made up for it if the reader can have patience. To think, I almost took this title off one of my saved collections on my digital library. Now, I'm excited to try more works by the author.
In any other book, the things that make "Looking Glass Sound" stand out so much would absolutely irritate the heck out of me. Somehow Ward is able to weave the overlaps, the layering, and a multitude of perspectives in a way that made me want to keep going instead of being frustrated me for carrying on what would have seemed to be a solid narrative. There were so many times that in other novels we'd be at the end or the big twist or reveal...and yet you hang on.
She also does a wonderful job dancing with magical realism. While I adore fantasy, this is one of the hardest subgenres for me to really enjoy as whatever way it balances tends to make one side of the narrative feel underdeveloped. Not true in this case. Even to the end, you're left wondering how much can be attributed to supernatural elements or if it's all a matter of psychology and potentially other health issues.
There was one thing that held this back from being utterly spectacular. The first larger segment doesn't so much overstay its welcome as that it feels the weakest written. Much of that came from the dialogue and thought process of a character who's supposed to be closer than seventeen than his sixteen at the start. I honestly wondered until it was explicit and restated is this really a later teenager or is this middle school/early high school. Even though some accounting can be done for the book starting in the 80s, I still had a hard time believing some of Wilder's concerns, way parents spoke as and he to them, when in a beat later it was more on track.
Despite that hitch, and a few minor things I could pick at being a Mainer myself, the way this book was executed more than made up for it if the reader can have patience. To think, I almost took this title off one of my saved collections on my digital library. Now, I'm excited to try more works by the author.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
La primera mitad me pareció bastante buena, con el misterio del asesino y las relaciones de los personajes, pero la segunda mitad me sobraba completamente.
La historia en sí me gustó, pero el libro pierde fuerza por los experimentos y giros de la autora. Demasiados plot twists.
For better or for worse, I never knew where this was going next. I wish it wrapped up a little more clearly.
I don't really know how to summarize this, so I am going to just say that this is mysterious and meta. There are multiple people writing and multiple viewpoints...and multiple mysteries.
I wasn't obsessed with the story itself, but I was intrigued by the writing. There were times, however, where the lack of transitions made it feel disjointed. I felt thrown out of the book and its elements (and great setting), and that didn't make me want to continue as fervently.
I would give this 3.5 stars. It felt too much like a first draft of a book.
I wasn't obsessed with the story itself, but I was intrigued by the writing. There were times, however, where the lack of transitions made it feel disjointed. I felt thrown out of the book and its elements (and great setting), and that didn't make me want to continue as fervently.
I would give this 3.5 stars. It felt too much like a first draft of a book.