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Copy/paste the text below into your blog. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2016005.The_Somnambulist?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Somnambulist" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414PUSYVm1L._SL160_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2016005.The_Somnambulist?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Somnambulist</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8403.Jonathan_Barnes">Jonathan Barnes</a><br/><br/> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17791322?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a> rating: 2 of 5 stars<br/>this actually came at recommendation from one of the blogs i frequent for book reviews, and so also motivated by the library due date, i had to finish this one before all others. the writing was actually decent throughout, and i found i wasn't very confused, for the most part, about the narrator and point of view. something that does confuse me is the character thomas cribb--i could never understand exactly why he does what he does, especially in the beginning of the story, after what happens at the end. that's more confusing than i care to analyze completely, and if the book was a bit more enjoyable, maybe i would flip back and reread, but as it is, this book isn't worth rereading for me. there were scenes near the end that repulsed me, but that i can credit to realistic writing. the title also struck me as potent with meaning, both in the literal and figurative sense, so some applause to that. but i have to admit what really drew me was the cover. i am a shallow girl at heart and i just can NOT refuse a pretty cover. so bravo to the marketing team too. <br/> <br/>i only wish that the conflict was more completely resolved. what's that with the boys in school uniforms? any clue to their identities? maybe they're the collective evil of the city? the villain's talk of his evil plans make no cohesive sense. you have the sense to plot out something that big based on a concept that weak? and edward moon, this supposed smartass of his generation, doesn't understand anything, even when the clues were in his face. most of what he gets credited for are done for him by other people. another case in point--i still have no idea what "powers" edward moon has--he supposedly read someone's mind from the audience. why is he such a blumbering idiot throughout the course of the events here then? it seems that the author is so preoccupied in building up the mystery of the villain's sinister plans that when the villain and the protagonist actually clash on the subject, the best thing the villain does is show him a corpse and a lot of liquid. and that this is what supposedly converted a lot of followers for him. no explanation as to how, no clues as to the significance of this.. it just is. and when the entire plot is pivotal on this single event, i'm left wondering how in the world any of these characters find any of these things plausible. and if maybe they live in a world with a completely different set of the laws of physics. <br/> <br/>i think for a good book, this is a pass. for decent entertainment when you're THAT bored and at risk of becoming bald from your own ministrations, and this just happens to be lying around with an overdue library deadline, worth checking out. <br/> <br/>P.S. - there's certainly a reference to that video released by the iraqis a couple of years ago, the one of them sawing off the soldier's head as a form of execution? makes me wonder if this is any significance as to what the author's political allegience is, if he feels compelled to include that little tidbit in his book. or maybe that specific event just stuck in his head, who knows. i had to wonder. <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/690438?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>