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A review by frogggirl2
Gnomon by Nick Harkaway
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"Just because something is done according to the law does not mean that it is lawful. Law is made in the image of an ideal. One can make a law that does not reflect that image, and that law may be a law without being lawful" (p. 13).
This book is dense, convoluted, pretentious and obtuse; the plot is made up of six loosely connected, but entirely separate (in space/time), stories/points of view. This is a rare book where all the points of view are equally interesting and have a compelling POV character.
Be sure to read this on Kindle, otherwise you're in for a rough ride having to look up words you don't know, historical illusions and other languages. A couple of things Kindle doesn't know either - some are made up.
For the first third of the book, there's no explanation as to what the hell is going on, which is tiresome. Since the book is a long, slow read, this part felt interminable. This nearly 700 page book doesn't come together until the last 100 pages so radical patience is required.
If you've got time and attention to dedicate to this book, there's a lot to like here - interesting stories and characters, a complex puzzle to solve and I was invested in the resolution.
This book is dense, convoluted, pretentious and obtuse; the plot is made up of six loosely connected, but entirely separate (in space/time), stories/points of view. This is a rare book where all the points of view are equally interesting and have a compelling POV character.
Be sure to read this on Kindle, otherwise you're in for a rough ride having to look up words you don't know, historical illusions and other languages. A couple of things Kindle doesn't know either - some are made up.
For the first third of the book, there's no explanation as to what the hell is going on, which is tiresome. Since the book is a long, slow read, this part felt interminable. This nearly 700 page book doesn't come together until the last 100 pages so radical patience is required.
If you've got time and attention to dedicate to this book, there's a lot to like here - interesting stories and characters, a complex puzzle to solve and I was invested in the resolution.