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I think this is 4.5-star book, because there were some things I did not love, but in general this is such an amazing book it deserves a high rating. I picked this up only because I saw the cover and was fascinated by it (so well done! and it fits the story perfectly!).
Zinzi, a former journalist, lives in Zoo City, in Johannesburg, with her Sloth, and has the ability to find lost items and write successful phishing letters. All these play a significant role in the story, though it is mostly about the lost items. Or in this case, a person. Half of a popular pop band goes missing and Zinzi is hired to find her. Throw in people reluctant to help, some magic, a few chases, more than questionable events and you have this book. It's such an incredible mix of magical realism, a bit of sci-fi, and crime, and all the components work well. There's also some South African realism, which ads another layer. The most fascinating concept in this book are people with animals though (not pets), how they are seen and treated, and all the little back stories that come with explaining people with animals - funny enough, it's never explained who decided on such a thing to happen. It doesn't matter though.
I feared when things wrapped up at the end of part 1 that the final 70 or so pages of the book would be pointless wandering around and maybe tying some loose ends, but oh man. The ending takes it to a whole another level, adding gears and getting even brutal and macabre, but perfectly revealing secrets and explaining things.
All in all, this is such a delightful book to read, Beukes has a way with words, and the concepts and premises in this book work beyond well. I would not mind reading a lot more in this universe. Definitely recommend.
Zinzi, a former journalist, lives in Zoo City, in Johannesburg, with her Sloth, and has the ability to find lost items and write successful phishing letters. All these play a significant role in the story, though it is mostly about the lost items. Or in this case, a person. Half of a popular pop band goes missing and Zinzi is hired to find her. Throw in people reluctant to help, some magic, a few chases, more than questionable events and you have this book. It's such an incredible mix of magical realism, a bit of sci-fi, and crime, and all the components work well. There's also some South African realism, which ads another layer. The most fascinating concept in this book are people with animals though (not pets), how they are seen and treated, and all the little back stories that come with explaining people with animals - funny enough, it's never explained who decided on such a thing to happen. It doesn't matter though.
I feared when things wrapped up at the end of part 1 that the final 70 or so pages of the book would be pointless wandering around and maybe tying some loose ends, but oh man. The ending takes it to a whole another level, adding gears and getting even brutal and macabre, but perfectly revealing secrets and explaining things.
All in all, this is such a delightful book to read, Beukes has a way with words, and the concepts and premises in this book work beyond well. I would not mind reading a lot more in this universe. Definitely recommend.