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A review by thexwalrus
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this took a while to pull me in - i think it was just a matter of picking it up at the wrong time. but once i got into it and things started clicking, i could not put it down.
crouch's line-level writing is brilliant. the staccato sentences during periods of urgency? the longer, flowing sentences when we're seeing things through an artist's perspective? the seamless transitions between the two that keep the tone of the book charging forward even in the moments we're supposed to be lingering? chef's kiss. as a writer myself i was very impressed with this level of craft.
the plot was a little strange at the start, but once we get an explanation (in incredibly digestible terms for people who have only a passing familiarity of quantum mechanics, which i think crouch deserves kudos for) it becomes so introspective and compelling. it's an investigation of identity, it's a wonderful science fiction "what if" story, it's a thriller, it's a love story about family and how lucky we are to find our people. i would not have guessed all those things could work in a narrative together, but this book proved me wrong!
it's a quick, approachable read that makes you think, with a beautiful, hopeful ending that made me smile. highly recommend.
crouch's line-level writing is brilliant. the staccato sentences during periods of urgency? the longer, flowing sentences when we're seeing things through an artist's perspective? the seamless transitions between the two that keep the tone of the book charging forward even in the moments we're supposed to be lingering? chef's kiss. as a writer myself i was very impressed with this level of craft.
the plot was a little strange at the start, but once we get an explanation (in incredibly digestible terms for people who have only a passing familiarity of quantum mechanics, which i think crouch deserves kudos for) it becomes so introspective and compelling. it's an investigation of identity, it's a wonderful science fiction "what if" story, it's a thriller, it's a love story about family and how lucky we are to find our people. i would not have guessed all those things could work in a narrative together, but this book proved me wrong!
it's a quick, approachable read that makes you think, with a beautiful, hopeful ending that made me smile. highly recommend.