Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
The story is calm, and slow going. I don't dislike this but there isn't much in the change of pace at all in the parts I read. Even in action moments, it feels like we are seeing it in slow motion due to the narrator. This book kept me at 51% interested but after a certain point it became a bit of a chore to read. I wasn't excited to read what happened next, more like, "I've made it this far, I should keep going...?"
I have heard that it does "get better" but I have other books I would rather read atm.
I have heard that it does "get better" but I have other books I would rather read atm.
I really, really enjoyed Mieville’s writing (especially the scenes in second person - mind-glowingly good!) but the story of a depressed immortal just isn’t catching my interest right now. His battles with a pig are even less enticing. Maybe I’ll come back to this if the mood strikes.
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I honestly don’t know what I just read or why this was written. It’s beyond “tough” reading - and I say that having really enjoyed William Gibson/Neuromancer. It’s either weird for the sake of being weird or I totally missed the point. The start was difficult, there was a section in the middle where I was into it and getting it, then it turned again into its own impenetrable mythology and lost me for good. Two stars for ambition and a vocabulary that would make SAT prep cry.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've liked, loved or admire all of Mieville's books and this is no different. I don't think it's quite love but I'm looking forward to reading some reviews and criticism.
The passages set in the past are beautifully written and conceived. The main story in the present is a balancing act - Thomas Sankara and all! I don't know if it's examination of ideas and philosophy shine as they do in other works or if I care particularly about B and any of the characters. Of all his previous work I was most reminded of Dial M for Murder, just for its manic playfulness and creativity. Once again I've seen a criticism that it's overwritten and once again those people need to get a bigger vocabulary 😁
The passages set in the past are beautifully written and conceived. The main story in the present is a balancing act - Thomas Sankara and all! I don't know if it's examination of ideas and philosophy shine as they do in other works or if I care particularly about B and any of the characters. Of all his previous work I was most reminded of Dial M for Murder, just for its manic playfulness and creativity. Once again I've seen a criticism that it's overwritten and once again those people need to get a bigger vocabulary 😁
Not engaging my attention, quite bored and confused and the narrators are too slow at 1.25 but too fast at 1.5
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I understood like 80% of this book and that got me through the 20% I didn't. I knew of Keanu Reeves/Matt Kindt's BRZRKR comic book and when I first heard of this has no idea it was based on that. Though I've been told (even by Reeves and Mieville themselves) that I don't need to read the comic before this, I want to to see if it helps any, I have a feeling it will. I wasn't fully bought into this until about 100 pages in. I felt like not everything had to be a mystery, so information could've been provided from the start without us aimlessly wandering until we get the information later. To the books credit, everything you need answers for I feel is provided at one point or another, you just have to be patient, and the things that aren't are still a mystery to the characters themselves or meant to be left open to interpretation. I really liked the flashbacks, but wish they had more obvious references to where/when in time they were. That would've given me something interesting I would've looked up on my own. While the flashbacks are good, they give context to B's character but I feel like they don't much for his character, as he can basically be anyone he wants in any lifetime, he remembers it all and where he ends up, as we know him in the present day, it doesn't sway me to one side or the other on what kind of character he is. This was good but I would have liked a little more, having read through it once it may benefit from a reread, knowing what I know now and I'll also have read the comics as well. Not terrible, but it didn't blow me away either.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty