Curiously, this is the second book I've read recently with the same premise: that of a young woman whom no one can remember. The first was The Sudden Curiously, this is the second book I've read recently with the same premise: that of a young woman whom no one can remember. The first was The Sudden Appearance of Hope, by Claire North, which was a good book. This one is better.
Like North's book, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue explores the lonely idea of a world without lasting relationships, but Addie also cannot make a mark on the world. When she writes or even types, the words disappear. Photographs are blurry. While North's heroine can explain her predicament to others (though no one will remember), Addie can't even speak her real name. If she breaks something, it reforms. She lives outside the world, not remembered by people or even by the world itself. Despite this, she finds ways to create her own meaning and make a mark in indirect ways that, over time, make a difference.
One of the most fascinating parts of the book is her relationship with Luc, the dark god who originally curses her. As the only person who remembers her, she naturally forms an attachment to him, despite his arrogance, cruelty, and inhuman nature. It becomes a Phantom of the Opera kind of tale, in some ways, though more understandable, and with a different ending.
The ending of this book is not what you expect, but it's incredibly satisfying on many levels. It's not an entirely happy ending, but it's happy enough, and it feels very right. ...more
This book could have been called "The Petty and Childish King" since that was most of its focus. I wanted to hear more about the good and noble commonThis book could have been called "The Petty and Childish King" since that was most of its focus. I wanted to hear more about the good and noble commoners who were willing to fight evil, but I just got chapter after chapter about the king. If you liked the Harry Potter books, don't expect this one to have anything in common....more
The descriptions of this book don't do it justice. I would never have picked it up from the descriptions alone, if it hadn't been written by the authoThe descriptions of this book don't do it justice. I would never have picked it up from the descriptions alone, if it hadn't been written by the author of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, one of my favorite fantasy books ever. Piranesi isn't that good, but it's a good deal better than the descriptions would imply.
Piranesi is about a single person in a strange and magical world, a combination of an endless classical buildings with thousands of statues and an ocean which sweeps through its lower floors and sometimes its upper ones, depending on the tides. It's a bit of a survival book, as Piranesi has to make a living with nothing but stone and ocean around him. It's a bit of a mystery, as the reader tries to piece together the gaps in Piranesi's memory to figure out what actually happened. As a narrator, Piranesi gets almost everything wrong, and we are left to figure out what's true from what's missing and what contradicts. All is revealed by the end. ...more
Phenomenal. Intricate and terrifying magic in a complex mystery with intense and sympathetic characters. Like the best of Tess Gerritsen, plus ghosts,Phenomenal. Intricate and terrifying magic in a complex mystery with intense and sympathetic characters. Like the best of Tess Gerritsen, plus ghosts, secret societies, and a university culture of wealth, architecture, poetry, and evil....more
This book starts out well, with a classic if well-trodden story of a poor girl with iron perseverance and a special talent. It takes place in an interThis book starts out well, with a classic if well-trodden story of a poor girl with iron perseverance and a special talent. It takes place in an interesting China-based fantasy world and features magic with great power and great danger. A bit past the halfway point of the book, however, it swings without warning into violent warfare, including a gruesome campaign of genocide. The main character repeatedly ignores the warnings of her mentor, the only person who seems to have some wisdom, and ends up becoming just as awful a person as those she is originally fighting to stop. There are two sequels, but I can't imagine where the story has left to go, and I won't be finding out. ...more
A clever and enjoyable fantasy world with sympathetic characters and a fast-moving plot. My only disappointment was that it was too short. Both the stA clever and enjoyable fantasy world with sympathetic characters and a fast-moving plot. My only disappointment was that it was too short. Both the story and the world felt like they deserved more time. ...more
I loved Among Others, but I had trouble with this one. Some interesting tidbits, but not much of a plot or actual story. Full review at the New York JI loved Among Others, but I had trouble with this one. Some interesting tidbits, but not much of a plot or actual story. Full review at the New York Journal of Books here:
Ted Chiang has done it again with an amazing collection of stories. Story collections are almost always mixed, with a few great ones and a few that drTed Chiang has done it again with an amazing collection of stories. Story collections are almost always mixed, with a few great ones and a few that drag. This is the rare exception: they're all good. Highly recommended....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
Mike Carey knows how to write a story. If you haven't read The Girl With All The Gifts, definitely start there, but this one is still a five star taleMike Carey knows how to write a story. If you haven't read The Girl With All The Gifts, definitely start there, but this one is still a five star tale. Engaging characters, a unique supernatural concept, and likable characters who have serious and believable psychological problems but are easy to root for. Just when you think it can't get any worse for them, it does, and then gets worse again, but Carey still pulls it out at the end into a satisfying conclusion. ...more
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