Scan barcode
A review by izabrekilien
Harrison Squared by Daryl Gregory
4.0
– This novel was provided by the publisher via NetGalley
in exchange for an honest review –
Reviewed for http://theereaderjunkie.wordpress.com
Let’s be upfront, I’ve never ever read anything by Lovecraft in my life. I want to, I certainly will and I’ve heard a lot about him but I thought it fair to warn you, since everybody refers to this novel as “lovecraftian”, that I won’t be able to compare or find any reference. So I’ll make my own : remember the Avengers, that old British show with John Steed and Emma Peel (I don’t want to hear about his other partners) ? Mystery, fantastic, humor and quirky characters – that’s what this book made me think about. In case you’re wondering, The avengers with Emma Peel is one of my favorite tv-shows ever.
I was intrigued straight from the beginning, let’s see these opening sentences : “What I remember are tentacles. Tentacles and teeth.” And the beginning of the first chapter ? “The building seemed to be watching me.” Catchy, isn’t it ?
I delved right into this dark, intriguing world, seemingly out of civilization : no phone bars, no cable TV (“the place was furnished in early Hermit”), people have their own religion in their own language. The students are not ordinary : no talking in class (except in their own special fingers code), no fights, no questions, they look almost emotionless. And come on, sea monsters !!
This is a novel that teenagers would feast on greedily. I love the mystery, the atmosphere, the people – not only Harrison and his sharp wit, but there are so many excellent secondary characters, I hadn’t seen that for quite some time now and enjoyed it immensely ! For example, aunt Sel : when you first hear about her, you think she’s an uptight city girl through and through, but when she arrives, she is a breath of fresh air in this confined environment, funny and carefree ! To sum it all, I had a blast reading Harrison squared. Yet be warned, the ending is somehow abrupt. I read somewhere that this was a prequel to “We are all completely fine“, which I haven’t read yet but I intend to remedy that as soon as I can.
Quote :
“I hadn’t told the cops about him ; how could I ? By the way, a were-trout came to my house last night and stole my favorite book.”
in exchange for an honest review –
Reviewed for http://theereaderjunkie.wordpress.com
Let’s be upfront, I’ve never ever read anything by Lovecraft in my life. I want to, I certainly will and I’ve heard a lot about him but I thought it fair to warn you, since everybody refers to this novel as “lovecraftian”, that I won’t be able to compare or find any reference. So I’ll make my own : remember the Avengers, that old British show with John Steed and Emma Peel (I don’t want to hear about his other partners) ? Mystery, fantastic, humor and quirky characters – that’s what this book made me think about. In case you’re wondering, The avengers with Emma Peel is one of my favorite tv-shows ever.
I was intrigued straight from the beginning, let’s see these opening sentences : “What I remember are tentacles. Tentacles and teeth.” And the beginning of the first chapter ? “The building seemed to be watching me.” Catchy, isn’t it ?
I delved right into this dark, intriguing world, seemingly out of civilization : no phone bars, no cable TV (“the place was furnished in early Hermit”), people have their own religion in their own language. The students are not ordinary : no talking in class (except in their own special fingers code), no fights, no questions, they look almost emotionless. And come on, sea monsters !!
This is a novel that teenagers would feast on greedily. I love the mystery, the atmosphere, the people – not only Harrison and his sharp wit, but there are so many excellent secondary characters, I hadn’t seen that for quite some time now and enjoyed it immensely ! For example, aunt Sel : when you first hear about her, you think she’s an uptight city girl through and through, but when she arrives, she is a breath of fresh air in this confined environment, funny and carefree ! To sum it all, I had a blast reading Harrison squared. Yet be warned, the ending is somehow abrupt. I read somewhere that this was a prequel to “We are all completely fine“, which I haven’t read yet but I intend to remedy that as soon as I can.
Quote :
“I hadn’t told the cops about him ; how could I ? By the way, a were-trout came to my house last night and stole my favorite book.”