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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the premise but just couldn’t get into it.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't know how to classify this book. I mean, I guess it's science fiction or maybe fantasy but it doesn't really read like either genre. The world building took a while for me to get a grasp on and then it makes one extremely uncomfortable. And don't expect to feel good when you reach the end.
That said, it's compelling and really different, and despite the over-the-top premise that you would expect from Fforde, the main characters are convincing and the relationship between the narrator and his father is especially interesting.
That said, it's compelling and really different, and despite the over-the-top premise that you would expect from Fforde, the main characters are convincing and the relationship between the narrator and his father is especially interesting.
Bleh. I wanted to like this, but I can't talk myself into getting past the first 50 pages. The beginning is nearly incomprehensible--full of unexplained references--and too SLOW to make it interesting while you wait. The narrator takes too much time describing things that don't make sense, but not much really happens. I couldn't find much sympathy in the protagonist either. Maybe I'll come back to it later; maybe.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
Love Fforde's style of writing. It really envokes a level of absurdism that tickles me. I read Early Riser before this and loved it throughly. This story had a bit too much in common for it to really pop for me since it felt like a rince and repeat. Same senario, story, and banter, but just a differently imagined world. Still a good read and I am looking forward to reading Redside Story now. I believe that that is the sequil to this one.
idk why so many people like this book. Basically, there's this girl whose only redeeming trait is a beautiful nose and a guy who likes her for uhh idk what reason. I think there was an attempt at some sort of social commentary through the color class system introduced in the book but nothing really hit emotionally because the story was also meant to be funny so everything tragic that happened was placed in a funny context. (Even the title is likely meant to be a parody of 50 Shades of Grey.) This is just my opinion but if the author wanted to write something lighthearted and funny he succeeded. If the author wanted to write something with deeper meaning I think he failed.
I made it a few chapters in and wasn’t in the right head space to absorb this story and its characters. I’ve mostly been into uncomplicated mysteries this year. I’ll revisit it in a few months.