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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
absolutely was not a fan. woman blows up her whole life after she is sent a taxidermy bird. winds up finding some sort of experimental drug in a bunker after a long, obscure battle with organized criminals. not sure if i missed the point…
Probably should have DNF this book once we got to part two and it was clear that the ending was going nowhere interesting. But I kept going out of misplaced hope.
3.5 just longer than it needed to be but the premise was good.
I unfortunetly decided to DNF this book at 25%. I've always heard amazing things about Jeff VanderMeer's books, but I think this one isn't for me. I really enjoyed the writing style and I'll probably look more into his other books. My biggest problems with the book are that I wasn't very interested in the mystery and I couldn't stand the main character.
Thank you to Blackstone Audiobooks and NetGalley for providing me with an Audiobook copy to review.
Thank you to Blackstone Audiobooks and NetGalley for providing me with an Audiobook copy to review.
Odd. I quite liked the bizarre story, but I wasn't so sold on the style of prose.
52B - #11
52B - #11
This book has a slow build and took me a while to get into for that reason. Once the action picks up, about halfway though, I was hooked and finished it in a sitting. A fun read for the mystery, suspense, and sci-fi elements. Many themes seem heavily inspired by 2020– especially the pandemic and global warming events—so it’s not a good read if you’re looking for an escape.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse
a little too vague throughout, this one didn't come fully together for me
No star rating because I think what I disliked about this book were traits that come from the genre, and mystery isn't really my bag. And yes, this is very much a mystery novel with dystopian elements, it aligns less with sci-fi.
Things I appreciated: clever world building in the not-so-distant future with a focus on environmental degradation, the protagonist's unfeminine build and occupation, and VanderMeer's prose. I often loose patience with female protagonistis written by male authors, but this one didn't offend or bore me.
Things I struggled with: The internal monologue of a anxious, privileged woman -- I've no desire to put more of that perspective in my head. The number of pivotal moments where the MC suddenly realizes or notices something that's been under her nose for a while; this is fine for a mystery but one of my least favorite things about the genre.
Things I appreciated: clever world building in the not-so-distant future with a focus on environmental degradation, the protagonist's unfeminine build and occupation, and VanderMeer's prose. I often loose patience with female protagonistis written by male authors, but this one didn't offend or bore me.
Things I struggled with: The internal monologue of a anxious, privileged woman -- I've no desire to put more of that perspective in my head. The number of pivotal moments where the MC suddenly realizes or notices something that's been under her nose for a while; this is fine for a mystery but one of my least favorite things about the genre.
*2.5 stars*
Hmm...Jeff VanderMeer is an author for me who I would definitely say is one of my favorite authors, even if his books aren't all 5 stars for me. Mostly just because, regardless of each individual book, his style and ideas as an author, those commonalities that are found in all of his books, are some of my favorites. So, that was here in this book, which is what I really liked about it. However, there also was a lot specific to this book that left me lukewarm, hence the lukewarm rating. I definitely didn't dislike this, but I also wouldn't necessarily recommend it to those who aren't already fans of VanderMeer's work and want more of him. One thing I really like about VanderMeer is how he explores attachment, especially in human/non-human relations, but sometimes that becomes his detriment, such as here, where I felt so completely detached that I never felt super engaged.
However, I do think my favorite part of this novel was the final part up to the ending. That, I found really satisfying (although I can see where it may be unsatisfying to some). That's where it felt the most VanderMeer in all the right ways, and so I'm left with a more positive feeling about the book overall than I did during most of the reading experience, hence my addition of the extra half star. I think the context of the ending gives the book much more flavor, and generates much more discussion and thought than it would have without that final addition. That being said, still not my favorite thing, but not my least favorite, either.
Regardless of the genre shift to thriller which is outside of VanderMeer's general oeuvre, it still very much reads like a VanderMeer novel, so if you're a fan of his, I wouldn't skip out on this one, but I also wouldn't expect it to blow you away!
Hmm...Jeff VanderMeer is an author for me who I would definitely say is one of my favorite authors, even if his books aren't all 5 stars for me. Mostly just because, regardless of each individual book, his style and ideas as an author, those commonalities that are found in all of his books, are some of my favorites. So, that was here in this book, which is what I really liked about it. However, there also was a lot specific to this book that left me lukewarm, hence the lukewarm rating. I definitely didn't dislike this, but I also wouldn't necessarily recommend it to those who aren't already fans of VanderMeer's work and want more of him. One thing I really like about VanderMeer is how he explores attachment, especially in human/non-human relations, but sometimes that becomes his detriment, such as here, where I felt so completely detached that I never felt super engaged.
However, I do think my favorite part of this novel was the final part up to the ending. That, I found really satisfying (although I can see where it may be unsatisfying to some). That's where it felt the most VanderMeer in all the right ways, and so I'm left with a more positive feeling about the book overall than I did during most of the reading experience, hence my addition of the extra half star. I think the context of the ending gives the book much more flavor, and generates much more discussion and thought than it would have without that final addition. That being said, still not my favorite thing, but not my least favorite, either.
Regardless of the genre shift to thriller which is outside of VanderMeer's general oeuvre, it still very much reads like a VanderMeer novel, so if you're a fan of his, I wouldn't skip out on this one, but I also wouldn't expect it to blow you away!