I didn't understand this, nor do I understand the practical implications understanding this.I didn't understand this, nor do I understand the practical implications understanding this....more
I thought the stories' premises were interesting, definitely some fun ideas, and his style of writing flows nicely... but almost every story just sortI thought the stories' premises were interesting, definitely some fun ideas, and his style of writing flows nicely... but almost every story just sort of pluffs out at the end with either great luck for the protagonist or inconsequential meaninglessness....more
Very archetypal myth-making hero's journey stuff, but too boring and bland for me, no likable characters, no interesting conflicts, boring within boriVery archetypal myth-making hero's journey stuff, but too boring and bland for me, no likable characters, no interesting conflicts, boring within boring within boring; the pacing felt too lopsided with too much setup and expositional dialog in the first act at one end, and a rushed and anticlimactic final act at the other end. I'll be interested to see how the live-action adaptations "spiced" things up....more
Smooth writing and well-paced action made for a nice page-turner. Unfortunately is was also a bit anticlimactic and had a real downer of an ending. StSmooth writing and well-paced action made for a nice page-turner. Unfortunately is was also a bit anticlimactic and had a real downer of an ending. Still, definitely hope to read the next in the series....more
Fun sci-fi somewhat noir-ish mystery, Gene Wolfe style, where characters are clever and rarely reveal their full motivations. None of that "you have nFun sci-fi somewhat noir-ish mystery, Gene Wolfe style, where characters are clever and rarely reveal their full motivations. None of that "you have no proof" nonsense....more
Very interesting, though I have to admit a bit over my head at times. Still seems to take the entire question of "why" for granted though. A casual diVery interesting, though I have to admit a bit over my head at times. Still seems to take the entire question of "why" for granted though. A casual diagram may be useful, but only if its elements and connections are obvious enough, which unfortunately isn't always the case....more
My only real complaint is that it dragged a bit when it switched to first person for some characters to tell their stories. Otherwise it's a super funMy only real complaint is that it dragged a bit when it switched to first person for some characters to tell their stories. Otherwise it's a super fun read, full of interesting sci-fi ideas, and I love the author's sense of humor. Looking forward to continuing the series....more
You're better off learning about the equation from YouTube videos. Not much substance here.You're better off learning about the equation from YouTube videos. Not much substance here....more
**spoiler alert** I'm probably not the target audience for this sort of book, but the premise sounded really interesting, so I gave it a try. I've alw**spoiler alert** I'm probably not the target audience for this sort of book, but the premise sounded really interesting, so I gave it a try. I've always loved good portal fantasy stories, and the premise for this story, about kids who have come back from their portal fantasy adventures and are trying to cope with being back in the real world, seemed to hold a lot of possibilities. There's a lot of story potential in terms of playing with the tropes of portal fantasy in a fun and creative way.
Unfortunately it was not really much of a fantasy book. There were maybe two or three magical elements in the story. It was like ordering a cake because the picture on the menu looked delicious, but then finding out it's bland diet sugar-free cake with that nasty whipped-cream frosting and maybe two or three tiny little sprinkles. The story mainly consisted of a bunch of annoying insecure teens with mommy/daddy issues talk about their "portal" problems, which lacked a lot of honest introspection and mostly consisted of blaming others for not understanding/accepting them. It hardly made for interesting or likable characters or conflicts. (And what was with the dirty minds some of these characters had?)
When some characters wind up dead, there's no real loss, because what little time was spent getting to know these characters was time spent disliking them anyway. And then the characters seem to jump to blaming each other out of nowhere. (And they're way too casual about making morbid jokes, which aren't all that funny. How serious am I supposed to take their emotional problems if I'm not even supposed to take death itself all that seriously? The tone was just bizarre.) Anyway, it's not much of a mystery, because there aren't really any compelling clues, there aren't enough characters for there to be any interesting collection of suspects, and the stakes never rise. The "mystery" is soon "solved" in a dull overly-convenient fashion. (Compare this to a great fantasy mystery like "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".)
So, overall, I thought the book was rather dreadful. But, like I said, I doubt I'm the target audience anyway. "Characters with emotional issues talk about them" is basically a genre, one that's not really my cup of tea.
I still like the idea of a collection of kids getting together after a bunch of different portal fantasy adventures... I may have to write my own take on it someday....more
![約束のネバーランド 1 [Yakusoku no Neverland 1]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515164562l/34106559._SY75_.jpg)
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