This is a fun read. Good premise and lots of neat ideas. The world of the future felt both plausible and interesting.
The writing overall isn't great. This is a fun read. Good premise and lots of neat ideas. The world of the future felt both plausible and interesting.
The writing overall isn't great. Feels very much like a new(ish) writer and there are some very clunky passages and cliched plotting. The author is particularly bad with exposition, generally breaking off from the story to give an encyclopaedia-ish explanation of this or that. It wasn't too bad as these Wiki-paragraphs were usually quite interesting, but not always. Skimmed through more than a few (and there's a bunch of them).
The tone felt like YA, aimed at a youngish sort of reader, but the subject matter (80s nostalgia) felt more aimed at an older reader. Not that a 17 year old can't enjoy it, but they won't get the full benefit of having lived through those times. Conversely, for a 40 year old the writing was a bit childiah at times. 35 year-olds of stunted growth and a poor reading age will love it though.
Because it matched a lot of my own tastes and memories I forgave a lot of its weaknesses, but I do think it could have been better. The riddles he solves are often not that impressive, or someone else solves it (off screen) and he just does what they did. The way he finds the first key is handled really well and you can follow his thinking and it feels right. The others are all a bit iffy and rushed through.
He goes from being penniless and low ranked to swimming in credits and high level very quickly with no real effort. The first key in the Tomb of Horrors doesn't require him to fight or even meet any monsters, and straight after he conveniently levels up to major buffness. It doesn't spoil the book, but it is a bit sloppy.
The emotional stuff is probably the most juvenile aspect of the book and not really very believable or convincing. Frankly I didn't care, and the 'deformity' his love interest was embarrassed about was laughable. Bit of a cop out. Make her a beast and lets see what he does then.
Despite all that an entertaining read. Will probably make a good movie.
This started well. We open with the difficult birth of our hero, so it literally begins at the beginning. But it's well written and you think okay so This started well. We open with the difficult birth of our hero, so it literally begins at the beginning. But it's well written and you think okay so that's the intro, now the story.
Nope.
More intro, more set up, lots of exposition and establishing of things that don't need to be established.
The writing, the premise, the characters are all fine. The historical stuff, even the made up stuff, is all well conceived and interesting.
But there's no story. It's all set up.
This books was clearly written as part of a series and has no contained story of its own, just a lot of vignettes of a boy's life as he goes from zero to about ten. And by the time I got to the end and nothing's happened it really felt like an indulgent, lazy piece of writing. Must be nice to have fans who'll let you get away with that sort of crap.
Then there's the obvious religious parallels with Christianity in general and Mormonism in particular. Christ on a bike it's clumsily handled. It starts feeling less like an adventure and more a tale of destiny. The problem with that is it gives the writer licence to just make things happen for no reason (it's the will of the Divine, don't you know) and you end up with convenient escapes from tricky situations.
Even with all that i liked the premise of an alternate America with magic and I think I would have still given it the benefit of the doubt if it had had an actual story (Star Wars is part of a series, but it doesn't end when Luke decides to leave the farm).
I also took a look at the first few chapters of the next book in the series (I really did want him to prove me wrong) but it doesn't get better it actually gets much, much worse. Going back over scenes in the first book from a different character's perspective, like it wasn't slow and tedious enough the first time.
A good one. Parker finds himself in an impossible situation and, as you would expect, takes it head on. The premise, the set up, the characters and thA good one. Parker finds himself in an impossible situation and, as you would expect, takes it head on. The premise, the set up, the characters and the style are all fantastic. The only complaint I would have is the shortness of the book and the slightly rushed ending. But in terms of bang for your buck definitely worth it. Very cool, very enjoyable. ...more
Short but engaging read. Clever twists and turns, some spooky bits, and an amusing premise.
All women, it turns out, are witches, using the dark arts tShort but engaging read. Clever twists and turns, some spooky bits, and an amusing premise.
All women, it turns out, are witches, using the dark arts to help their husbands, and protect them from other women's evil magics.
There is a slightly sexist element to the tale, but no more than Lady Macbeth reflects badly on womanly ambition. Ultimately this is a very entertaining story, up there with Rosemary's Baby for social satire and a wickedly dark sense of humour.
My only reservation would be that there are a couple of passages that go into the psychology of witchcraft that were very skimmable. It's a short story really, padded out to novella length. But well worth reading all the same....more
Always good to read a "Great American Novel" that actually is great.
A sweeping story of the birth of one nation and the death of another. Completely cAlways good to read a "Great American Novel" that actually is great.
A sweeping story of the birth of one nation and the death of another. Completely convincing in its depiction of American Indians, both on the surface and how their way of looking at the world differed so greatly from our own.
But on top of that, highly readable, no literary flourishes to describe the landscape, a very authentic dialect created without phonetic spellings (thank God) and also quite funny in places with a cast of mean, selfish, deceitful characters. I'd call it a satire if it wasn't all obviously true.
My main interest in reading this book was to find any advice on writing. There is some, but not very much. The vast majority is literally about runninMy main interest in reading this book was to find any advice on writing. There is some, but not very much. The vast majority is literally about running, the ins and outs and his personal problems and triumphs (mostly problems).
I wasn't really very interested in that and found the details of various races to be quite tedious. He does state that the book will be predominantly about running at the start so it's not like I was misled, but I just could't make myself care about his cramping calf muscles and general enthusiasm for triathalons.
I should point out that I also found a lot of the personal recollections of Stephen King in 'On Writing' to also be exceedingly dull (I don't care what drive-ins he went to as a boy), but that book had a large section on writing which was well worth reading.
I'd say this one is strictly for running enthusiasts....more
The premise of this story is a startlingly original one and it is impressive enough to make it a worthwhile read on that basis alone. He manages to coThe premise of this story is a startlingly original one and it is impressive enough to make it a worthwhile read on that basis alone. He manages to convey the idea of two cities living on top of each other, sharing the same space and yet not, while mixing it into the real world, really quite elegantly.
Nothing is ever explained and the terminology is as obscuring as it is explanatory, and yet you end up getting it. Quite a feat.
The mystery ends up being a bit of a Maltese Falcon not what you thought it was kind of story and lacks impact. You don't really care about the victims and the main cop is a little too functional and introverted to really carry off what should have been a classic Humphrey Bogart sort of role.
It also suffers a little from Mieiville's tendency to pack the front end with world-building details and a slow-burning fuse, and then rush to a climax in the last third.
For all that it's a fast paced read and full of innovative ideas, which is a rare thing these days. Enjoyable....more
The set up here is reminiscent of another Westlake (aka Stark) book starring his other regular MC, Dortmunder, who is the complete opposite of Parker,The set up here is reminiscent of another Westlake (aka Stark) book starring his other regular MC, Dortmunder, who is the complete opposite of Parker, but no less entertaining.
In the first of that series (The Hot Rock) there is a similar African nation needing to get hold of a diamond. In that story, comedy ensues, in this one we seemed to go down a familiar path of thinsg gone awry and Parker sorting them out.
Since the addition of Claire, Parker isn't quite the hard case he once was and the jobs all seem to be a bit low rent. This one could have used a better villain, rather than a group of warring factions none of whom seem all that competent. The old Parker would never have wasted his time on them.
Enjoyable tale none the less, with the ever readable machinegun prose....more
A lot darker than the last few books, the introduction of a homosexual, rapist, woman-beater brings an uptick in the unpleasantness. Parker isn't abovA lot darker than the last few books, the introduction of a homosexual, rapist, woman-beater brings an uptick in the unpleasantness. Parker isn't above a bit of brutality himself, so we're set up for a fine clash of the nasty titians and it doesn't disappoint.
Parker's methods, and Westlake's rendering of them, are fascinating as always, the writing is sharp as ever and the story is compelling.
As fun to read as ever, but another very short book.
The caper is as inventive and as doomed as you'd expect, but still lots of cleverness and tensionAs fun to read as ever, but another very short book.
The caper is as inventive and as doomed as you'd expect, but still lots of cleverness and tension. Parker's banter with the new girl is nicely handled, although I can't say I'm going to miss her when she turns up dead at some point (it's bound to happen isn't it?).
I like the fact that he seems to be changing as a character, not quite the automaton of the earlier books, but I hope he doesn't get too soft. ...more
Probably the finest single volume of swords and sorcery fantasy ever written. Manages to capture epic scope in both time and space in a fraction of thProbably the finest single volume of swords and sorcery fantasy ever written. Manages to capture epic scope in both time and space in a fraction of the length most bloated Tolkein-imitators attempt (and fail). One of the few fantasy books that captures the modern, cynical and sarcastic view of honour and duty.
Relentlessly exciting and imaginative, vividly written and endlessly entertaining. The final scene is at once glorious and damning.
There are only three truly timeless, original series in this genre of fantasy: Lord of the Rings, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, and Elric....more
I think the only two authors currently writing stuff worth reading are Murakami and Houellebecq.
The majority of American writers seem to be priviligedI think the only two authors currently writing stuff worth reading are Murakami and Houellebecq.
The majority of American writers seem to be priviliged white males fixated on whether their character's wife is cheating on them and/or can they get away with cheating on her. And the answer is, nobody cares.
I care even less about the nostalgic rubbish British writers can't seem to get enough of (even more white, equally male (technically) and much more priviliged).
In this very funny book, Houellebecq more or less ignores his usual preoccupation with prostitution and focuses instead on the art world, or more specifically the transformation of art from individual expression to manufactured commodity. But more importantly, to me, he tackles the world as it is and lays out how he thinks things will continue, something British and American writers have long since chickened-out of doing.
His protagonist, Jed Martin, is the familiar man out of touch from most of his books, but his role as artist - almost an autistic savant - allows for an ousider's view of both the art world and the world in general.
It's a satire and if you don't find anything amusing about self-important people deciding what constitutes good art and how much that's worth, then you may not enjoy this story.
Very deftly written, highly opinionated and quite bitter and dark at times, although feels like he had a lot of fun writing it. I certainly had a lot of fun reading it....more
This is a short book, almost a group of vignettes set in late night world of odd characters. It doesn't really tell you a story or have much of a narrThis is a short book, almost a group of vignettes set in late night world of odd characters. It doesn't really tell you a story or have much of a narrative, but as a fan of Murakami it's easy to see his usual predelictions at work here.
The attraction for me is in the writing. He makes me want to keep on reading and I don't know how he does it. ALmost feels like a magic trick. People exchanging their thoughts without being boring, even when the thoughts aren't complete.
Nothing about this book makes sense. I can't recommend it, I can only say that I enjoyed it greatly. Like a Jim Jarmusch movie but with more Japanese people (but only a couple more)....more
I found this collection of stories judgemental, harsh, smug, mean, unnecessarily kooky, and darkly comic. In short, I loved it. Very funny, and full oI found this collection of stories judgemental, harsh, smug, mean, unnecessarily kooky, and darkly comic. In short, I loved it. Very funny, and full of sharp observations.
Reminded me a little of Amy Hempel's stuff, only younger and more pessimistic.
It may rub some people up the wrong way with its cooler-than-thou attitude, but you don't want your artists to be anodyne and fair-minded, do you?...more
One of the things I hadn’t realised about this book is that it’s very clearly written as a comedy. Not that it’s laugh out loud funny (think ShakespeaOne of the things I hadn’t realised about this book is that it’s very clearly written as a comedy. Not that it’s laugh out loud funny (think Shakespeare’s comedies) but the structure and characterisation are very much written with a broad comedic brush.
In fact the story feels very theatrical and has a lot in common with Shakespeare, French farce and Russian dramatists (Gogol in particular).
It often drifts into melodrama, especially the female characters who are all drawn quite hysterical.
The theatrical nature of the comedy didn’t really work for me. If you think of the gag where someone says, “I’m not going to beat about the bush, but first let me just say...” and then they proceed to beat about the bush, that’s the sort of thing you get here. There’s also a lot of double-talk, misunderstandings and pompous sounding off, all mainly aimed at the more bureaucratic characters (very Gogol influenced, I think). Thing is that sort of dialogue works a lot better when preformed (Danny Kaye was always good at it) than when it’s on the page to be read, especially when it’s written at length (at great length).
It’s written in a number of books, which were serialised in the Russian press, and each book is quite different in style and in scope. Makes for a bitty read. It’s also clear the narrative is there to serve the theme and debate, and the murder and subsequent court case are written with discussion more in mind than story.
It's episodic and contrived to give characters the opening they need to say the thing they need to say to make the points the author is interested in. It isn't very subtle about that.
The theme of the book (to my mind) is this: Ignoring the question of whether there is a god or not (since it can’t be proved either way), is it better to live life as a believer or non-believer?
This debate feels quite dated and is also presented in a very biased manner.
Dated in that the Church doesn’t hold the position in society that it did back then and a lot of what is taken for granted (the nature of miracles, the role of priests) isn’t any longer.
And biased because it’s clear what Dostoevsky thinks and the opposing view is hamstrung by it.
Mainly, though, the idea that if you don’t believe in god you will become nihilistic and apathetic about life and other people is pretty dumb. The kind of homogenous society and limited awareness of alternatives to one's own lifestyle and culture doesn't exist the way it did then.
Ivan, the sceptic, is outraged about the suffering of children (how could a god allow it) and so he feels justified in acting like a cad. Alyosha, the monk, on the other hand, has a whole storyline about a dying child who he helps and in doing so helps all the other children in the village become better people. But there’s no reason to think someone who is convinced of a godless universe would feel justified in not assisting children. It’s a stupid argument and it’s the basis of the theory here.
There is no god, let's all rape and murder! Obviously there was a time when we were all savages and we needed ten commandments to tell us what to do (apparently a lot of ass coveting was going on back in the day). That view of humanity feels a little quaint now. And equally, those who wish to do wrong can easily do it in the name of their chosen deity.
So while this book’s historical place is assured, as a measured debate on the nature of faith and the value of god, its time has passed.
By the way, I'm not saying there is no god or that there is no value in faith, just that the arguments put forward in this book don't feel valid any longer....more
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