4.0
adventurous challenging dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This book is a worthwhile read for those willing to stomach the gratuitous violence and deliberately clunky prose. 

Most of the meaning I derived from the book came not from the events of the story, but rather the complex metaphors and allegories that are interspersed throughout it. It is certainly reflective; as I wrote about the book for the purposes of a discussion thread, its meaning became apparent to me.

People need to STOP comparing this book to Moby Dick. It is nothing like Moby Dick in function or in form, although perhaps the books' messages overlap to a degree. 

Do your best to understand the epilogue and final chapter, as they tie the whole book together and allow for some interesting retrospective analysis of the story, characters, and the book's meaning as a whole. 

I would have rated this lower if not for the book's excellent and artful tail end.