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A review by brettcarl
The Invisible Land by Sam Taylor, Hubert Mingarelli
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
A puzzling novel that's somehow simultaneously thought-provoking and intriguingly, as well as tedious and bland. Following an unnamed photographer and his armed solider escort, O'Leary, Mingarelli subtly hints at the haunting and complex reality of war, specifically how uncertainty and unease still lingers and seems to infect the environment and its occupants even once the fighting has ceased and victory is secured. Critically, the plot is admirable in a way, however not enough happens in order to justify such subtly from Mingarelli and this gives the story an air of vacancy and vagueness that's desperately in need of being satisfyingly filled and clarified.
Significantly, Mingarelli's intentions seem pretty clear throughout the novel, yet its his execution of these intentions which ultimately lets himself and the novel down. By the end, while I felt like I'd read something interesting and original, conclusively, I felt underwhelmed and disappointed with not just the conclusion but the overall quality of the novel - whether it be its plot, characters, world-building, themes or prose.
Significantly, Mingarelli's intentions seem pretty clear throughout the novel, yet its his execution of these intentions which ultimately lets himself and the novel down. By the end, while I felt like I'd read something interesting and original, conclusively, I felt underwhelmed and disappointed with not just the conclusion but the overall quality of the novel - whether it be its plot, characters, world-building, themes or prose.