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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Good but not great. I really loved the allegory but I think at times it was such a direct allegory that the world building and plot was lost a little bit.
I'd say it is a 3.5 for me. But it's a slow and clunky start. By the end I was pretty gripped though.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Think I'd actually go to 4.5 for this one. I love the premise of exploring what a city would be like if it were a person (or, in the case of New York, people).
It took me a minute to get into this book. I was very confused in the beginning, then started to get a sense of what was happening, then enjoyed what was happening, then literally couldn't put the book down until I finished it. In some sense it felt like I was being talked into liking this book, but in a way that was effective and convincing. In another sense, it felt like I had a hard time finding the rhythm of the book. But once I did, I loved it.
Upon finishing, I had lots of questions. I'm still unclear as to what/who/why the villain is. What about the relationship between characters? who is New York? Why are some cities coming alive before New York, while some have yet to? Also, not questions but demands: lets hear more about some other cities! And how about some more sidekicks! But mostly: I can't wait for Book 2!
Some odds and ends:
1) I really admire how Jemisin writes trilogies. They rarely leave you with a cliffhanger, which I find very refreshing. I find nothing more annoying than having to track down book 2 (or wait for it to be published1) in order to find out how characters escape impending doom. Instead, Jemisin wraps the most pressing concerns up, while showing you to the beginning of a new path (aka the next book).
2) Though I enjoyed this book, I imagine this would be even more fun if you know a lot about NYC, or had spent a lot of time there. I haven't spent much time there, and I feel very little connection to the city. I'd be very interested to hear how NYCers feel about this book.
It took me a minute to get into this book. I was very confused in the beginning, then started to get a sense of what was happening, then enjoyed what was happening, then literally couldn't put the book down until I finished it. In some sense it felt like I was being talked into liking this book, but in a way that was effective and convincing. In another sense, it felt like I had a hard time finding the rhythm of the book. But once I did, I loved it.
Upon finishing, I had lots of questions. I'm still unclear as to what/who/why the villain is. What about the relationship between characters? who is New York? Why are some cities coming alive before New York, while some have yet to? Also, not questions but demands: lets hear more about some other cities! And how about some more sidekicks! But mostly: I can't wait for Book 2!
Some odds and ends:
1) I really admire how Jemisin writes trilogies. They rarely leave you with a cliffhanger, which I find very refreshing. I find nothing more annoying than having to track down book 2 (or wait for it to be published1) in order to find out how characters escape impending doom. Instead, Jemisin wraps the most pressing concerns up, while showing you to the beginning of a new path (aka the next book).
2) Though I enjoyed this book, I imagine this would be even more fun if you know a lot about NYC, or had spent a lot of time there. I haven't spent much time there, and I feel very little connection to the city. I'd be very interested to hear how NYCers feel about this book.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes