Beautiful writing, fascinating characters, painful situations, and a thought-provoking scenario. Definitely worth the read. At the end, I'm not sure wBeautiful writing, fascinating characters, painful situations, and a thought-provoking scenario. Definitely worth the read. At the end, I'm not sure what the takeaway is meant to be, but it certainly gives a striking and realistic look at how ingrained and hard to overcome our problems are, as a nation and as a species. ...more
There was quite a bit of this book I enjoyed, but I found the ending very disappointing. A whole lot of violence and gore, with no subtlety in consideThere was quite a bit of this book I enjoyed, but I found the ending very disappointing. A whole lot of violence and gore, with no subtlety in considering whether the violence was right or necessary. Also, I was expecting all along that the students had things wrong, and the adults really understood much more of the situation than they did, so I was disappointed when the plot had much fewer surprises than I was expecting. ...more
This series is delightful. The author puts himself into the story as Watson to Hawthorne's Holmes, and the mix of real life people and situations withThis series is delightful. The author puts himself into the story as Watson to Hawthorne's Holmes, and the mix of real life people and situations with the fictional mysteries makes for a fun and unique read. The mysteries themselves are well-crafted and satisfying, and there are always some hilarious moments. I'm looking forward to the next. ...more
Wow! This one blew me away. Such stunningly creative evolutionary worldbuilding, with a gripping plot and characters despite the fact that the story cWow! This one blew me away. Such stunningly creative evolutionary worldbuilding, with a gripping plot and characters despite the fact that the story covers eons. By the end, the author had me empathizing with the spiders so well that I wanted them to succeed more than the humans. On to the sequel... ...more
Interesting in various ways, but the author spends more time explaining his idea for a new economic system than he does telling a story. Full review aInteresting in various ways, but the author spends more time explaining his idea for a new economic system than he does telling a story. Full review at New York Journal Review of Books, here: https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book......more
This book is frightening in how familiar it is. On the one hand, it's a nightmare tale of monsters; on the other, it's all too familiarly human. It'sThis book is frightening in how familiar it is. On the one hand, it's a nightmare tale of monsters; on the other, it's all too familiarly human. It's like a darker version of the X-Men, focusing not on the talents of the special few, but on how eager we humans are to hate what we fear and destroy what we don't understand. Bleak and disturbing, but highly recommended.
I had the privilege of reading an early copy of this excellent book.
In his latest, Di Louie bravely tackles the topic of an American civilI had the privilege of reading an early copy of this excellent book.
In his latest, Di Louie bravely tackles the topic of an American civil war, divided between Right and Left. With that kind of premise, you might expect a political polemic in which Di Louie lionizes one side and villainizes the other, but that’s not what he does. Instead, we see the desperate tragedy on both sides as they destroy everything they’re fighting to save, even sending children to fight and die as soldiers.
One strength of the novel is its believability. Without the American landmarks, the setting might be mistaken for the landscape of a war-torn Somalia or Sudan. Aid workers navigate a complicated skein of splinter groups, struggling to bring even small amounts of help, the devastation and hatred seeming too vast to overcome. It’s a gripping human drama that reminds us that Americans are not immune to self-destruction and serves as a warning to find common ground before our differences tear us apart.
The story follows two siblings fighting on opposite sides of the conflict and the aid worker determined to end the use of children as soldiers. Di Louie doesn’t flinch from violence and death; this is not a sweet tale. It is, however, a satisfying one that leaves the reader with hope even as it dramatizes the worst of our human nature....more
A subtle and mesmerizing story that tells more in what it doesn't say than it what it says outright. My full review at the New York Journal of Books:<A subtle and mesmerizing story that tells more in what it doesn't say than it what it says outright. My full review at the New York Journal of Books: https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book... ...more
Making an illusionist into a killer was a creative idea, allowing all kinds of tricky misdirection and disguises, but the book suffered from the "inviMaking an illusionist into a killer was a creative idea, allowing all kinds of tricky misdirection and disguises, but the book suffered from the "invincible villain" syndrome. After enough twists, it becomes too hard to believe that the whole thing was all part of his evil plan from the beginning. It was a fun read, but stretched belief. ...more
Loading...
