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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
It was a tough read. I was only ever interested in the parts about the hummingbird.
I picked this up after reading Southern Reach #1-3 as a way to maybe ease back into the sort of "normal" mystery novels I may need to busy myself with while waiting for #4.
Somehow Jeff is able to pull all of the threads together in a coherent way without a book feeling like it's too contrived. The mystery, each clue, has an answer, though they may not all be "satisfying", and the journey through them feels realistic, gritty at times.
The background mentions of a pandemic feel at once "of the time" and yet fits within the story's themes. If you're rading this far removed from COVID-19, it probably won't necessarily seem too self-absorbed in the current moment, but I'm glad I read it now while it still lingers.
Somehow Jeff is able to pull all of the threads together in a coherent way without a book feeling like it's too contrived. The mystery, each clue, has an answer, though they may not all be "satisfying", and the journey through them feels realistic, gritty at times.
The background mentions of a pandemic feel at once "of the time" and yet fits within the story's themes. If you're rading this far removed from COVID-19, it probably won't necessarily seem too self-absorbed in the current moment, but I'm glad I read it now while it still lingers.
A slow but extremely rewarding burn with a perfect ending.
Maybe a harsh rating but this was such a disappointing book. Absolutely loved Annihilation/the Southern Reach trilogy and bits of Dead Astronauts are extraordinary. The idea of VanderMeer doing near-future noir about the climate apocalypse sounds absolutely incredible too, so hopes were maybe a bit too high. But even so, the first two hundred or so pages of this is a turgid slog. Very little happens but it's all So. Incredibly. Dramatic. Every character is 'broken' in an annoying, entirely too serious way, and it just makes huge chunks of the book both boring and cringe. VanderMeer's continuing exploration of futility and hope is again a great idea he just doesn't stick - there's no real reason for 'Jane' to immediately blow up her entire life, and he doesn't really explore it beyond trauma, which does the book's ecological ambitions a real disservice. It does improve as it goes on (and anything happens). In particular the last fifty or so pages pick up a bit as VanderMeer gets into his weirder area of expertise, but even so it still doesn't ever quite get that interesting sadly. There's so much cool stuff and so much potential in here and it's just such a missed opportunity.
Started so strong but I lost interest. Sad for a suspense novel to fall apart that. DNF @50%
2/5stars
I am beginning to think "borne" by vandermeer was the fluke. I've picked up each of his books so excited, and leave just wondering "why."
This book was meandering and confusing at best, but mostly it was just boring. The ending was unsatisfying, the characters weren't great, their motivations and characterizations make no sense, and the writing grated on my nerves.
I am so sick of men writing women at this point I feel like it's an immediate turn off for me. I couldn't stand the descriptions of our main characters after 15% in. She is CONSTANTLY described as huge and massive and pig-like. I just want to know why men try.
This is also nit-picky but its one of my least favorite writing tropes/styles - but I HATE when characters are telling back a story. So, rather than experiencing the story WITH the character, the character is telling you a story that has already happened. Half of this book is the narrator making random foreshadows, keeping things from the reader, and then expecting us to give a shit when something is finally revealed.
Nothing was INNATELY wrong with this book, I just found it annoying and boring, so I'm giving it 2 stars rather than 1, but it's definitely a 1 for enjoyment.
Also DO NOT listen to the audio. The narrator is EXTREMELY boring - soooo monotone. I definitely zoned out several times and would have fallen asleep if I listened to this too late in the evening.
I am beginning to think "borne" by vandermeer was the fluke. I've picked up each of his books so excited, and leave just wondering "why."
This book was meandering and confusing at best, but mostly it was just boring. The ending was unsatisfying, the characters weren't great, their motivations and characterizations make no sense, and the writing grated on my nerves.
I am so sick of men writing women at this point I feel like it's an immediate turn off for me. I couldn't stand the descriptions of our main characters after 15% in. She is CONSTANTLY described as huge and massive and pig-like. I just want to know why men try.
This is also nit-picky but its one of my least favorite writing tropes/styles - but I HATE when characters are telling back a story. So, rather than experiencing the story WITH the character, the character is telling you a story that has already happened. Half of this book is the narrator making random foreshadows, keeping things from the reader, and then expecting us to give a shit when something is finally revealed.
Nothing was INNATELY wrong with this book, I just found it annoying and boring, so I'm giving it 2 stars rather than 1, but it's definitely a 1 for enjoyment.
Also DO NOT listen to the audio. The narrator is EXTREMELY boring - soooo monotone. I definitely zoned out several times and would have fallen asleep if I listened to this too late in the evening.
The writing is so bad. I can’t believe I finished this book. This book has no subtlety. Bleh.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes