City on Fire in Around the World in 80 Books

Mar 28, 2016 KC rated it it was amazing

I was really hesitant about this book because of all the hype that it received. I really enjoyed it though and found that it was not a slog at all even though it is quite the brick of a book. The writing is well done and the interludes provide both content and visual breaks that tie the story together. In the end, I wished it would continue. The end actually felt somewhat rushed, but given the length, I suppose it had to end sometime!

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 05, 2015 Sam marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: reviewed

I feel comfortable ditching this. I tried to get into this book in print and audio and made it through about 150 pages. If something great was going to reveal itself about the story--something that hinted at how much I might still like it--it would've already done so. I have zero interest in any of the five characters introduced so far, so the super detailed insight into their thought processes, one excruciating detail after another, for pages and pages, was unbearable. It all seemed flat to me. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 12, 2015 Jade rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

My love for this big beautiful book surprised me. I'm not one to finish long books often. I sometimes get bored and distracted in the middle of a 140-character long tweet. But I couldn't stop reading this in awe. My first reaction when I finished the last page was to start it again. I can't pretend to have much knowledge of literary criticism, and I can't put into words why, but this book has left me feeling like a small part of my world has shifted slightly because of it. ...more

Like · see review