UN LUN DUN: roll call and initial impressions (*NO SPOILERS*)

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Please let us know if you're reading, planning to read, or have read Un Lun Dun by China Miéville.

No spoilers in this topic please!

[Pickle]

im going to re-read this before reading Leviathan Wakes. I first read it years ago so looking forward to my first re-read of this.

[Bev]

Is this a young adult or young reader?

[Pickle]

Bev wrote: "Is this a young adult or young reader?"

I'd say it's a YA book.

[Bev]

Pickle wrote: "Bev wrote: "Is this a young adult or young reader?"

I'd say it's a YA book."

thanks I wasnt sure. Will give it a miss then. I have read most of his others and I am not too fussed about them.

[Stan]

I read it and then gave it to my wife so she could put it in her school library.

[Todd]

Bev wrote: "Will give it a miss then. I have read most of his others and I am not too fussed about them. "

You're not missing much. I'm about 1/2 way through and not really enjoying it - quite a disappointment really considering how I loved his New Crobuzon series (especially The Scar, one of the best books ever!).

Each chapter is so short (good for short attention spans??), the world about which he writes is sometimes creative, sometimes clever, but mostly isn't very interesting, and it's definitely YA (emphasis on Y not A).

If this is similar to Gaiman's Neverwhere, should I give that a miss, or is Neverwhere different and more enjoyable??

[Jenny]

I've put it on hold at the library. I have a couple of other books to read first, but I plan on reading it this month. I own Railsea but haven't read it yet so this will be my first book by China Miéville.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Todd wrote: "If this is similar to Gaiman's Neverwhere, should I give that a miss, or is Neverwhere different and more enjoyable?? "
I have not read this book (or any other Miéville yet) but I read Neverwhere and enjoyed it--did not find it too YA.

[Helen]

I bought this before reading the Scar which I didn't like. Wondering now whether I might prefer this.

[Todd]

Kathi wrote: "Todd wrote: "If this is similar to Gaiman's Neverwhere, should I give that a miss, or is Neverwhere different and more enjoyable?? "
I have not read this book (or any other Miéville yet) but I read..."

Thanks, Kathi - Neverwhere has been on my to-read list for awhile and after reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane I want to read everything by Gaiman, I was mesmerised by that one (and have read none of his other books sadly).

As for Miéville, he's still one of my favourites despite this book and I look forward to reading more from him.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Donna - I don't think it's really representative of his style. I'd definitely recommend checking out something else by him - Perdido Street Station or The City & The City, maybe.

[Pickle]

Stefan wrote: "Donna - I don't think it's really representative of his style. I'd definitely recommend checking out something else by him - Perdido Street Station or The City & The City, maybe."

its certainly not his style of writing and i'd guess he changed it for a younger audience. I cant recall him using as many chapters in anything other than Railsea and thats anohter YA book

[Shel, Moderator]

I read it quite some time ago and enjoyed it very much, though I don't remember it that well. It is definitely very different than his New Crobuzon books.

[Michael]

I'm struggling to keep going. I quit on my last book andand a not wanting to quit on this one but I don't really care what happens to the smog.

[Richelle]

I'm halfway through now and really enjoying it. It's definitely intended for a younger audience, but it is still a lot of fun. The silly puns and plot twists are enough to keep me entertained, and I'll probably be finished tomorrow, only three days after starting it. A good summer book.

[Todd]

Michael wrote: "I'm struggling to keep going. I quit on my last book andand a not wanting to quit on this one but I don't really care what happens to the smog."

Same here so I decided not to abandon it, just to put it aside for awhile and perhaps pick it up to finish it at some time in the future. Not finishing it was keeping me from reading other stuff I wanted to read, and that's just not acceptable, so I'll pick it up (perhaps) some time and enjoy the book I'm reading (and finishing) instead.