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3.09 AVERAGE
3.09 AVERAGE
I went into this book expecting to love it and to be broken by it. Somehow it exceeded my expectations in both aspects. In another beautiful addition to Mark Watson's work, The Place That Didn't Exist is an individual take on murder mysteries that showcases his brand of humour and insight flawlessly. My copy is already packed with post it notes next to lines that charmed me.
The best way I have been able to describe this book is that it healed the scars upon my heart then tore open a hundred new ones. It is a book that if you don't have to put it down every few pages to let a paragraph sink in then you aren't paying enough attention.
All I really have to say is that you should read this book.
The best way I have been able to describe this book is that it healed the scars upon my heart then tore open a hundred new ones. It is a book that if you don't have to put it down every few pages to let a paragraph sink in then you aren't paying enough attention.
All I really have to say is that you should read this book.
I found this book quite a light read but it was an enjoyable one. Being set in Dubai, I was interested to read about the area, never having been but certainly being aware of what its image, a bit like a Las Vegas for the East. There are various characters who have their own quirks and indeed the main character, Tim, is someone I found quite likeable - a bit of an awkward clutz, I felt sorry for him at times and found myself trying to guess what truths might be discovered and who had committed the crime the novel is about. Its not a very dark read but its perfectly entertaining regardless.
I'm not sure I'd call it a crime novel, nor a mystery, although there are elements of both genres contained within the plot. I'm happy to recommend this book in general, although if I were to criticise it, I'd say that towards the end, the final outcome seemed a bit obvious (not for the whole book but towards the end) and also the last chapter seemed a little unnecessarily long drawn out but otherwise its a light and enjoyable read and I'm perfectly happy to try out more of Marks books, given I wasn't aware, previous to buying and reading this book, that he wrote, only being aware of Mark from when he was on the TV series Taskmaster.
I'm not sure I'd call it a crime novel, nor a mystery, although there are elements of both genres contained within the plot. I'm happy to recommend this book in general, although if I were to criticise it, I'd say that towards the end, the final outcome seemed a bit obvious (not for the whole book but towards the end) and also the last chapter seemed a little unnecessarily long drawn out but otherwise its a light and enjoyable read and I'm perfectly happy to try out more of Marks books, given I wasn't aware, previous to buying and reading this book, that he wrote, only being aware of Mark from when he was on the TV series Taskmaster.
This wasnt my favourite of Watson's novels. I just found the story to be a bit flat and the culmination of the whodunnit element was a little disappointing.
All the way through the story, the reader is led to believe that there is something really sinister going on, only for it to turn out that it's just a financial crisis for the company involved which felt somewhat of a let down. I'd have liked something a bit more juicy.
Although I dont feel Mark Watson is the best in terms of the way he writes, I do always enjoy reading his novels so this one gets 3 stars from me.
All the way through the story, the reader is led to believe that there is something really sinister going on, only for it to turn out that it's just a financial crisis for the company involved which felt somewhat of a let down. I'd have liked something a bit more juicy.
Although I dont feel Mark Watson is the best in terms of the way he writes, I do always enjoy reading his novels so this one gets 3 stars from me.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A book so thrilling and gripping I finished it in a day - beginning with the riddle of the dollar was an awesome choice to hook the reader in. Tim as a protagonist was a little flat, but I do understand that part of his character was his being an affable, conflict-solving people-pleaser, and I did relate to that. The mystery and tension was built up really well, and there was really thoughtful meta-commentary on the nature of murder mysteries. The final reveal was gripping if a little strange.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
Readable, just not very enjoyable.
The twists in the novel felt forced and the characters felt too beige to be properly cared about.
If you want a story to read that you don't need to invest much effort or care in, then this is perfect for you.
The twists in the novel felt forced and the characters felt too beige to be properly cared about.
If you want a story to read that you don't need to invest much effort or care in, then this is perfect for you.
Not being familiar with the author’s stand-up comedy repertoire I approached the book with a clean slate. I expected a humorous mystery novel but soon learnt that the comedy simply stems from the protagonist’s hopeless existence. Tim Callaghan is a klutz who is not only out of his depth in Dubai but also in life. He won’t stand up for himself when a co-worker of equal position berates him in front of an audience. His role in the novel remains confusing throughout the story as he barely contributes to the ongoing television production. Was he written as an alter ego to the author? Comedians often like to portray themselves as mumbling dopes. Or was he conceptualized as a blank everyday man to encourage readers to identify with him? I failed at the latter as his immaturity irritated me more than it produced sympathy.
The book’s happenings are told through an omniscient narrator who focuses on Tim’s point of view. However, the story makes a 180 degree turn towards the end of book when it changes perspectives from Tim to his colleague Ruth. Such an unexpected shift in perspective inadvertently reveals the identity of the murderer to me. One could have been spared of the following 30-odd pointless pages. Nevertheless I dislike to skip parts so I persisted.
We learn more about Ruth’s life than we ever learn about Tim despite the book primarily focusing on him (what does that tell you about how empty his character is). Ruth’s life is an unoriginal sob story peaking at the death of her teenage son. Watson’s dry words “He was dead” didn’t make me feel sad for Ruth – they made me feel enraged. “Of course he died, of course he did,” I shook my head at the poorly conceived emotional blackmail. I didn’t get a chance to identify with her so now I was rejecting her.
Watson told us Ruth’s life story in order to explain her motive for murdering Raf. Yet nowhere did we learn that there was anything “wrong” with her. She’s obviously not a sociopath and I am sure there are many people with terrible lives who don’t murder the first person who reminds them of it. Hence the motive is poor.
The only interesting moment was the chapter where Tim dreamed of murdering Raf while sleepwalking. I became excited at this potential plot twist only to be disappointed when it was revealed as a simple dream.
The book is a very easy read written in simple English with the occasional fancy word (I had to google what are “tureens”). Topics include the conflict between dreams (sleep-induced or heart-produced) and reality, and how humans change their reality for it to take the shape of their dreams. I have never visited Dubai so perhaps I would have appreciated it more otherwise as much of it is focused on describing the city. If there is a positive to carry from reading this book it is the knowledge that anyone can write a novel these days! I can use this book to encourage my book-writing friends in their endeavors.
The book’s happenings are told through an omniscient narrator who focuses on Tim’s point of view. However, the story makes a 180 degree turn towards the end of book when it changes perspectives from Tim to his colleague Ruth. Such an unexpected shift in perspective inadvertently reveals the identity of the murderer to me. One could have been spared of the following 30-odd pointless pages. Nevertheless I dislike to skip parts so I persisted.
We learn more about Ruth’s life than we ever learn about Tim despite the book primarily focusing on him (what does that tell you about how empty his character is). Ruth’s life is an unoriginal sob story peaking at the death of her teenage son. Watson’s dry words “He was dead” didn’t make me feel sad for Ruth – they made me feel enraged. “Of course he died, of course he did,” I shook my head at the poorly conceived emotional blackmail. I didn’t get a chance to identify with her so now I was rejecting her.
Watson told us Ruth’s life story in order to explain her motive for murdering Raf. Yet nowhere did we learn that there was anything “wrong” with her. She’s obviously not a sociopath and I am sure there are many people with terrible lives who don’t murder the first person who reminds them of it. Hence the motive is poor.
The only interesting moment was the chapter where Tim dreamed of murdering Raf while sleepwalking. I became excited at this potential plot twist only to be disappointed when it was revealed as a simple dream.
The book is a very easy read written in simple English with the occasional fancy word (I had to google what are “tureens”). Topics include the conflict between dreams (sleep-induced or heart-produced) and reality, and how humans change their reality for it to take the shape of their dreams. I have never visited Dubai so perhaps I would have appreciated it more otherwise as much of it is focused on describing the city. If there is a positive to carry from reading this book it is the knowledge that anyone can write a novel these days! I can use this book to encourage my book-writing friends in their endeavors.
„Die Stadt im Nichts“ erzählt die Geschichte um Werbetexter Tim, der für einen Werbespot, den er getextet hat, nach Dubai reisen soll. Dort lernt er sein Team kennen und ebenso die schöne Stadt der Emirate. Tims Erwartungen an Dubai werden nicht enttäuscht, Dubai ist tatsächlich genauso dekadent, wie er gehört hat. Alles läuft in geregelten Bahnen, der erste Drehtag ist geschafft (ohne etwas auf Band zu bekommen), und die After-Work Party in Tims Domizil ufert ein bisschen aus. Morgens dann die Ernüchterung: Der Produktionsleiter Raf wird tot aufgefunden. Die Stimmung kippt, wilde Vermutungen und Rätselraten, was genau passiert ist, sind an der Tagesordnung. Doch nach Tims Geschmack kehrt man viel zu schnell zur Normalität zurück, und während er sich noch über Verschwörungstheorien und verschleierte Morde, die als Missbrauch von Alkohol und Drogen dargestellt werden, lässt das nächste Unheil nicht lange auf sich warten. So geraten nicht nur Marks Kollegen und er selber in Verdacht, sondern auch die Organisation WorldWise, für die der Spot gedreht werden soll…
Mark Watson hat hier einen Roman vorgelegt, der teils Gesellschaftskritik, teils Krimi und teils Portrait Dubais ist. Mit seiner klaren, flüssigen Schreibe beschreibt er aus der Sicht Tims die Geschehnisse in der luxuriösen Stadt. Was anfangs noch sehr an „Ein Hologramm für den König“ von Dave Eggers erinnert, wird bald zum Verfolgungswahn-Trip: Tim fühlt sich nach den Ereignissen in Dubai nicht mehr willkommen, will abreisen, doch seine Karte ist gesperrt, das Internet wird ihm verweigert, und dadurch, dass er Schlafwandler ist, verdächtigt er sich selbst, Raf ermordet zu haben – er konnte ihn sowieso nicht leiden. In diesem Zwiespalt bewegt sich Tim, als ihm eine Frau des Teams unerwartet näher kommt.
In dieser Nacht konnte er lange nicht einschlafen. Das Bild des [Obdachlosen] in dem Türeingang ließ ihn nicht los. In gewisser Weise stand er für die vielen Notleidenden […] und hielt Tim vor Augen, wie wenig er das Leid dieser Menschen an sich heranließ. […] Die Welt war voller Katastrophen, die der Einzelne zumeist überhaupt nicht beeinflussen konnte. Politische Gefangene, Flüchtlinge, Hungernde. Da es unmöglich war, alles zu verändern, beschloss man irgendwann, gar nichts zu tun.
Weitab vom egozentrischen Gefühlstrip meiner aktuell gelesenen Bücher wollte ich mal wieder etwas mit einer spannenden Handlung lesen. Krimis sind absolut nicht meins, dennoch las sich der Klappentext von „Die Stadt im Nichts“ sehr gut und auch das Buch hat einen soliden Eindruck hinterlassen. Allerdings habe ich mich daran gestört, das trotz des abrupten Wechsels der Erzählperspektive im dritten Teil (der mich zugegebenermaßen sehr überrascht hat), nie wirklich aufgelöst wird, wie es zu einigen Gegebenheiten gekommen ist. Diese Tatsache und auch die, dass ich mich permanent an „Ein Hologramm für den König“ erinnert fühlte, nicht wegen der Handlung, sondern wegen der vorherrschenden Stimmung und auch aufgrund der Charakterisierung Dubais. Wobei in Eggers Roman die in Dubai geltenden Regeln noch als strenger beschrieben wurden, beispielsweise war Alkohol und dessen Konsum streng verboten, es gab keine Minibars und das Personal hätte es mit Sicherheit nicht geduldet, wenn dort getrunken worden wäre. In Watsons Dubai hingegen war es öffentlich bekannt, dass die Westler viel und gerne trinken und auch Drogen konsumieren, und das einfach so in ihren Suiten und Hotelzimmern. Ich weiß nicht, wie es in der Realität aussieht, aber das hat mich doch teilweise etwas verwirrt.
Die vollständige Rezension findet ihr auf meinem Blog: http://killmonotony.wordpress.com
Mark Watson hat hier einen Roman vorgelegt, der teils Gesellschaftskritik, teils Krimi und teils Portrait Dubais ist. Mit seiner klaren, flüssigen Schreibe beschreibt er aus der Sicht Tims die Geschehnisse in der luxuriösen Stadt. Was anfangs noch sehr an „Ein Hologramm für den König“ von Dave Eggers erinnert, wird bald zum Verfolgungswahn-Trip: Tim fühlt sich nach den Ereignissen in Dubai nicht mehr willkommen, will abreisen, doch seine Karte ist gesperrt, das Internet wird ihm verweigert, und dadurch, dass er Schlafwandler ist, verdächtigt er sich selbst, Raf ermordet zu haben – er konnte ihn sowieso nicht leiden. In diesem Zwiespalt bewegt sich Tim, als ihm eine Frau des Teams unerwartet näher kommt.
In dieser Nacht konnte er lange nicht einschlafen. Das Bild des [Obdachlosen] in dem Türeingang ließ ihn nicht los. In gewisser Weise stand er für die vielen Notleidenden […] und hielt Tim vor Augen, wie wenig er das Leid dieser Menschen an sich heranließ. […] Die Welt war voller Katastrophen, die der Einzelne zumeist überhaupt nicht beeinflussen konnte. Politische Gefangene, Flüchtlinge, Hungernde. Da es unmöglich war, alles zu verändern, beschloss man irgendwann, gar nichts zu tun.
Weitab vom egozentrischen Gefühlstrip meiner aktuell gelesenen Bücher wollte ich mal wieder etwas mit einer spannenden Handlung lesen. Krimis sind absolut nicht meins, dennoch las sich der Klappentext von „Die Stadt im Nichts“ sehr gut und auch das Buch hat einen soliden Eindruck hinterlassen. Allerdings habe ich mich daran gestört, das trotz des abrupten Wechsels der Erzählperspektive im dritten Teil (der mich zugegebenermaßen sehr überrascht hat), nie wirklich aufgelöst wird, wie es zu einigen Gegebenheiten gekommen ist. Diese Tatsache und auch die, dass ich mich permanent an „Ein Hologramm für den König“ erinnert fühlte, nicht wegen der Handlung, sondern wegen der vorherrschenden Stimmung und auch aufgrund der Charakterisierung Dubais. Wobei in Eggers Roman die in Dubai geltenden Regeln noch als strenger beschrieben wurden, beispielsweise war Alkohol und dessen Konsum streng verboten, es gab keine Minibars und das Personal hätte es mit Sicherheit nicht geduldet, wenn dort getrunken worden wäre. In Watsons Dubai hingegen war es öffentlich bekannt, dass die Westler viel und gerne trinken und auch Drogen konsumieren, und das einfach so in ihren Suiten und Hotelzimmern. Ich weiß nicht, wie es in der Realität aussieht, aber das hat mich doch teilweise etwas verwirrt.
Die vollständige Rezension findet ihr auf meinem Blog: http://killmonotony.wordpress.com
