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hissingpotatoes's review against another edition
2.5
The summary of this book that focuses on the character of Giles Peach is entirely misleading. He's barely in the book, and the plot follows two competing groups of scientists trying to build a contraption to get them to the center of the earth, not the journey to or within the center of the earth. The story was slow at times. I got through because of the fantastical ideas and imagery, Blaylock's prose, and the hook of seeing from the perspective of a mentally unstable character. The treatment of an Asian character was racist.
shane_tiernan's review against another edition
4.0
So this started off slow but then got better and better as I got to know the characters and understand what was happening. When I read the back blurb I really thought that the characters were going to be immersed in a world like Pellucidar but instead it ended up being a bunch of crazy old men running around trying to solve mysteries and save the world.
It's reminiscent of "Cloud Atlas" though I've only seen the movie so I'm not sure how the book handled the "senior citizen revolt" and obviously this came out way before Cloud Atlas.
I REALLY loved the cover art on my paperback and now I'm disappointed to find that the hardcovers have other (lesser) art. It just has that kind of Norman Rockwell on acid vibe that EXACTLY fits the tone of the book.
It's reminiscent of "Cloud Atlas" though I've only seen the movie so I'm not sure how the book handled the "senior citizen revolt" and obviously this came out way before Cloud Atlas.
I REALLY loved the cover art on my paperback and now I'm disappointed to find that the hardcovers have other (lesser) art. It just has that kind of Norman Rockwell on acid vibe that EXACTLY fits the tone of the book.
lady_mel's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of the most convoluted books I've ever read, but I absolutely love James Blaylock's prose. He can make the back of an aspirin bottle sound interesting.
Basically, the story is about Giles Peach, a boy who, incidentally, was born with gills and semi-webbed fingers. He has a way with machines, and has come up with something he calls The Digging Leviathan, a device to reach the center of the world.
There are mermen popping up everywhere, and Giles' best friend,Jim, has a father who is locked up in an insane asylum, and escapes regularly.
I liked the book itself, but the reason I gave it three stars was due to typos all the way through it.
Basically, the story is about Giles Peach, a boy who, incidentally, was born with gills and semi-webbed fingers. He has a way with machines, and has come up with something he calls The Digging Leviathan, a device to reach the center of the world.
There are mermen popping up everywhere, and Giles' best friend,Jim, has a father who is locked up in an insane asylum, and escapes regularly.
I liked the book itself, but the reason I gave it three stars was due to typos all the way through it.
alexhaydon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really wanted to love this. It seems to be a novel that has inspired a few writers and for the life of me I can’t really see why… there are some concepts and theory that are possibly being asked questions of in this novel but not too evidently.
The first third of the book was brilliantly weird and engaging. William’s character was what carried me through this book, insane and yet completely sane. But even his storyline becomes all too repetitive. There is no sense of adventure or driving force in the novel past the half way mark for me. It felt like we had been waiting in anticipation for an event that wasn’t coming and sadly I became more aware of it the further I read. When something eventually happens toward the end, I felt underwhelmed.
I’d read that the novel was Steampunk but it sadly didn’t feel or read like others that have been more successful in that genre..besides some character names there wasn’t much to indicate it’s Steampunkness?
Lastly, the female characters…only 2 if you can even call them characters. I’d have rathered them not be there at all than the pitiful and either hysterical or angry *glimpses* we get into their personalities. A novel that is seriously not old enough to warrant this in my opinion.
Maybe it was the wrong Blaylock novel to choose first? Very sad this book wasn’t as successful for me as I’d hoped.
The first third of the book was brilliantly weird and engaging. William’s character was what carried me through this book, insane and yet completely sane. But even his storyline becomes all too repetitive. There is no sense of adventure or driving force in the novel past the half way mark for me. It felt like we had been waiting in anticipation for an event that wasn’t coming and sadly I became more aware of it the further I read. When something eventually happens toward the end, I felt underwhelmed.
I’d read that the novel was Steampunk but it sadly didn’t feel or read like others that have been more successful in that genre..besides some character names there wasn’t much to indicate it’s Steampunkness?
Lastly, the female characters…only 2 if you can even call them characters. I’d have rathered them not be there at all than the pitiful and either hysterical or angry *glimpses* we get into their personalities. A novel that is seriously not old enough to warrant this in my opinion.
Maybe it was the wrong Blaylock novel to choose first? Very sad this book wasn’t as successful for me as I’d hoped.
kat_smith24's review against another edition
4.0
Definite Bradbury flavor, with a touch of Lovecraft.
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