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erinflight's review against another edition
4.0
Like all of Catherynne Valente's books, this book is beautiful.
But the beauty in this book is... sharp, for lack of a better word. Every character in this book is broken and every element of beauty in the strange city we are shown glimpses of is tinged with pain.
This book takes a hard look at certain parts of humanity that many other authors prefer to skim over in stories like these (the two that stand out most are the transactionality of sex and our willingness to accept beautiful lies). But, while the focus of the story is fascinating, the characters feel strangely distant. They are ideas and shapes more than fully fleshed out people. I enjoyed reading about them, but they didn't feel real enough for me to get attached.
The ending was also a strange contrast to the rest of the book. In that it was almost too straightforward, too easy. The book raised very complex questions, but ended them with a simple answer.
Overall, I'm glad I read this book. There are certain scenes that will stick with me.
And, everything else aside, I really love the idea of a sexually transmitted city.
But the beauty in this book is... sharp, for lack of a better word. Every character in this book is broken and every element of beauty in the strange city we are shown glimpses of is tinged with pain.
This book takes a hard look at certain parts of humanity that many other authors prefer to skim over in stories like these (the two that stand out most are the transactionality of sex and our willingness to accept beautiful lies). But, while the focus of the story is fascinating, the characters feel strangely distant. They are ideas and shapes more than fully fleshed out people. I enjoyed reading about them, but they didn't feel real enough for me to get attached.
The ending was also a strange contrast to the rest of the book. In that it was almost too straightforward, too easy. The book raised very complex questions, but ended them with a simple answer.
Overall, I'm glad I read this book. There are certain scenes that will stick with me.
And, everything else aside, I really love the idea of a sexually transmitted city.
eletricjb's review against another edition
3.0
This is like the adult version of Fairyland, which is the exact opposite of what I want, but still it was engrossing.
squirrelsohno's review against another edition
4.0
That was weird. And I don't think I even 50% understand what happened. But I liked it.
fletcher's review against another edition
So pretty but that felt like all there was to it. It makes no goddamn sense and I could never figure out what the world was or what as going on between the prose. The characters were also so weird and unrelatable--the girl who is like sexually attracted to trains? What?
jsbynm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
wellyreads's review against another edition
1.0
This book evidently wasn't for me. While being beautifully written the lack of/slow plot made it that I just can't bring myself to finish it.
pythonesque's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
shellbellbell's review against another edition
5.0
I've only read a few things by this author, and her language is always so beautiful and poetic. The same is true here, in a story about a beautiful, dangerous, fantastical city that you can only reach by having sex with someone who's been there.
There are a number of subjects that Valente writes about here with a special poetry. First off, is the city itself. The little interludes spaced out throughout the book give us dream-like glimpses. It sort of reminded me of a less-grimdark New Crobuzon from China Mieville's novels, only because he's the only other author I've read who writes about cities with such passion.
There is also SO MUCH about trains. TRAINS. The romance of trains. Those parts were like, tailor-made for me. Other subjects that get written about a lot in poetic fashion: bees, locks and keys, book-binding.
And the sex. There is a lot of sex in this book, as you can imagine, but it never feels like it's in there just for titillation, or for the male gaze. There are hetero and homo pairings, but the sex scenes are always about the individuals involved, and that feels kinda queer? And just like people, just like real life, the sex ranges from wild and passionate to dull and practical, to desperate and sad. I was impressed with the author's ability to write so many sex scenes and have them all feel different.
I definitely recommend this novel for the language alone, particularly if you have long stretches of time to sit and read it. It was harder to dip in and out of in short bursts. Much more rewarding to just sit and read for an hour at a time.
Representation notes: Queer sex and relationships. One of the main characters is Japanese.
Content warnings: Suicide, incest.
There are a number of subjects that Valente writes about here with a special poetry. First off, is the city itself. The little interludes spaced out throughout the book give us dream-like glimpses. It sort of reminded me of a less-grimdark New Crobuzon from China Mieville's novels, only because he's the only other author I've read who writes about cities with such passion.
There is also SO MUCH about trains. TRAINS. The romance of trains. Those parts were like, tailor-made for me. Other subjects that get written about a lot in poetic fashion: bees, locks and keys, book-binding.
And the sex. There is a lot of sex in this book, as you can imagine, but it never feels like it's in there just for titillation, or for the male gaze. There are hetero and homo pairings, but the sex scenes are always about the individuals involved, and that feels kinda queer? And just like people, just like real life, the sex ranges from wild and passionate to dull and practical, to desperate and sad. I was impressed with the author's ability to write so many sex scenes and have them all feel different.
I definitely recommend this novel for the language alone, particularly if you have long stretches of time to sit and read it. It was harder to dip in and out of in short bursts. Much more rewarding to just sit and read for an hour at a time.
Representation notes: Queer sex and relationships. One of the main characters is Japanese.
Content warnings: Suicide, incest.
mccullah's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kmacdo23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mrs. Valente, I'll love you forever. These words wash over me, cleansing as rain.
You take the train to heaven, listen to the bees, circumnavigate fairyland with your skirt as your sail, be a beast amoung beasts, fall in love with the ghosts of your childhood.
Take me to Palimpsest, dip my feet in the ink, wrap me in red, read my cards. I'm ready for the real world.
This is my favourite love story.
You take the train to heaven, listen to the bees, circumnavigate fairyland with your skirt as your sail, be a beast amoung beasts, fall in love with the ghosts of your childhood.
Take me to Palimpsest, dip my feet in the ink, wrap me in red, read my cards. I'm ready for the real world.
This is my favourite love story.