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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
The novel opens with distracted, patchy descriptions that echo the disturbed thought patterns of the protagonist. Though initially hard to follow, persistence brings the story into focus in pieces, almost like a game in itself.
There is again that question of what is real that has come up in a lot of the books recently. It is a close examination of someone’s psyche and motivations. Time is all out of whack, which means that you piece things together slowly and feel like you’re getting into the mind of the narrator. It becomes more and more gripping as you get dragged along.
The ending is a shock; the meaninglessness and purposelessness of the protagonist’s actions seem to reflect something more. Something that you cannot fully grasp; slippery along the edge of your consciousness in its nihilistic horror. A slow burn of a book that will stay with you.
There is again that question of what is real that has come up in a lot of the books recently. It is a close examination of someone’s psyche and motivations. Time is all out of whack, which means that you piece things together slowly and feel like you’re getting into the mind of the narrator. It becomes more and more gripping as you get dragged along.
The ending is a shock; the meaninglessness and purposelessness of the protagonist’s actions seem to reflect something more. Something that you cannot fully grasp; slippery along the edge of your consciousness in its nihilistic horror. A slow burn of a book that will stay with you.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At first, I thought this was just some angsty midlife crisis Gen-Xer story. I find myself pretty suspicious of books where the narrative jumps around in time so much. But then I got to the explanation of Trace Italian and I was hooked. This is more my thing. A play-by-mail RPG seems so pretentious, and it could have been just another "retro" thing, but the world Sean Phillips presents to the reader is fascinating. Not necessarily in the detail, but in how he has constructed everything. He's created a sedate and undoubtedly addictive game, but he intends no player to ever win. In fact, it seems like he has made it impossible to do so in the span of his life. And that's just really intriguing, to me.
From this bit of storytelling, I was better able to relate to Sean, and the theme of the story--the general meaningless of life and our own actions--just showed through so strongly. Given how depressing this book is, I can't see myself handing it over to someone for a recommendation, but I'd certainly back up someone's decision to read.
The audiobook, ready by the author himself, is of a pretty good quality, and I always love to hear how an author would read their work, as you know you're getting each line exactly as they intended.
From this bit of storytelling, I was better able to relate to Sean, and the theme of the story--the general meaningless of life and our own actions--just showed through so strongly. Given how depressing this book is, I can't see myself handing it over to someone for a recommendation, but I'd certainly back up someone's decision to read.
The audiobook, ready by the author himself, is of a pretty good quality, and I always love to hear how an author would read their work, as you know you're getting each line exactly as they intended.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Forget the synopsis. It totally fails to reflect the heart of the writing.
Instead of marveling at the writers impressive technical skill (the character and story arch are truly impressive), I find his ability to show that the deep, ubiquitous shadows of the main character's life, both internal and external, are cast by an surprising inner light, and lightness, an unexpected will to appreciate what little life offers, to survive and even thrive, through an acknowledgment and acceptance of the incoherence of existence.
Although after the first chapter or so i was unconvinced i would want to finish something about what appears a troubled grotesque character, I find this one of the most intriguing and strangely life affirming (?!) modern stories I've read. As another reviewer said, finishing the book left me in a thoughtful reflective pause, contemplating reading it again. For now I choose to savor and reflect on the experience.
Instead of marveling at the writers impressive technical skill (the character and story arch are truly impressive), I find his ability to show that the deep, ubiquitous shadows of the main character's life, both internal and external, are cast by an surprising inner light, and lightness, an unexpected will to appreciate what little life offers, to survive and even thrive, through an acknowledgment and acceptance of the incoherence of existence.
Although after the first chapter or so i was unconvinced i would want to finish something about what appears a troubled grotesque character, I find this one of the most intriguing and strangely life affirming (?!) modern stories I've read. As another reviewer said, finishing the book left me in a thoughtful reflective pause, contemplating reading it again. For now I choose to savor and reflect on the experience.
What a brilliant and very different book and story.
This is one book that I'll read again and again...
This is one book that I'll read again and again...
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced