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gruezelda_reads 's review for:
Senlin Ascends
by Josiah Bancroft
A strangely charming story about a provincial schoolmaster who finds himself alone on what is meant to be the trip of a lifetime with his new bride. In a sort of steampunk alternate reality, Thomas Senlin considers himself one of the wiser and more worldly citizens of his small community and has dreamt for years of visiting the Tower of Babel, which he views as the pinnacle of human achievement and culture. The novel explores Senlin's adventures, both worldly and emotional/psychological, as he comes to grip with the reality of the tower (and the world) as opposed to his ideas of it.
The book seemed a little plodding at first - I found myself checking my progress often early on, which is not usually a good sign. By the time I got about 1/4 in to the book, however, I was more fully invested in the characters and the search for Mrs. Senlin. Thomas's early experiences in the tower are honestly kind of brutal and off-putting to me, but they set the stage well for this Odyssey-like journey. I like the way Thomas's character is revealed through his memories of his "previous" life, and while I wish we had a fuller view of his wife's personality and journey, she is brought to life through memory and hearsay fully enough to feel like more than just a Macguffin. By the end, I was surprised by how much I was enjoying it and rooting for Thomas and his allies, and his marriage. I am looking forward to reading further in the next book.
The book seemed a little plodding at first - I found myself checking my progress often early on, which is not usually a good sign. By the time I got about 1/4 in to the book, however, I was more fully invested in the characters and the search for Mrs. Senlin. Thomas's early experiences in the tower are honestly kind of brutal and off-putting to me, but they set the stage well for this Odyssey-like journey. I like the way Thomas's character is revealed through his memories of his "previous" life, and while I wish we had a fuller view of his wife's personality and journey, she is brought to life through memory and hearsay fully enough to feel like more than just a Macguffin. By the end, I was surprised by how much I was enjoying it and rooting for Thomas and his allies, and his marriage. I am looking forward to reading further in the next book.