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Un Lun Dun
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9/10: Un Lun Dun - what did you think overall? (No spoilers)
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Well, I was hoping some other people - like those who were talking about how they couldn't wait to discuss the book *poke**prod* - would start the ball rolling, but I guess I'll start.Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed in the story. I'm a big fan of 'Neverwhere', which was a clear influence, but there was something missing about this book. I don't know if the characters just weren't as interesting, or the world wasn't as cohesive, or a combination of both these things and more, but the story sort of felt flat to me.
I know other people really liked it - so come on out and share your thoughts.
I liked it a lot. It was very imaginative. He composed a really fascinating world. I thought the story was pretty good too, some unique concepts there. Parts of it really reminded me of Alice in Wonderland (especially the new movie). I'd definitely say I liked the first half better than the second half though if I have to mention a con. It kind of dragged a little maybe in the last third of the book.
It was certainly interesting, but I think it could have been much better overall. I also think it could've been somewhat condensed, as it dragged quite a bit throughout.
I read to page 52 or so before deciding to cut my losses and move on to another book in my ever-growing pile of "to reads." What primarily turned me off the book was the awkward dialogue. The girls' casual vernacular came off, for me, as forced and contrived. The plot, at least so far as it is introduced in the first 52 pages and on the back cover, seemed beyond mundane. And I found the characters depthless, with only Mieville's peculiar bells and whistles of invention hung about each person to make them seem less flat. This book seemed much more about the crazy ideas Mieville could come up with than about character development or plot.
Margot wrote: "I read to page 52 or so before deciding to cut my losses and move on to another book in my ever-growing pile of "to reads."I downloaded it on my Nook and really thought I wasn't going to finish it. The first 75 or 100 pages were truly awful for all the reasons Margot stated. However, it picked up a lot after that and I zipped through the last 3/4. If I hadn't paid for it, I wouldn't have finished it and I would have missed what turned out to be a fun story.
I keep hearing that this is a young adult book. However, I'd say that it's strictly for middle-grade readers. It's very much in the category of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I think that is why I disliked it so much at first. It just reminded me too much of a book I didn't like.
From the book alone I wouldn't have been in a rush to read his other works, but might have given the opportunity, but after reading how anti-Tolkien he is he's completely turned me off so I won't read anything else by him.
I just finished this one this morning.. I actually liked it, surprisingly enough. I say surprisingly, because I really didn't expect to. I think for me it might just be the timing of when I read it. I had been wanting to read something lighter and quick for a while now, and when this became available at the library I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did.. It's definitely not the best thing I've read lately, or my favorite, but it was a fun read for me at least.
Margot wrote: "I read to page 52 or so before deciding to cut my losses and move on to another book in my ever-growing pile of "to reads." What primarily turned me off the book was the awkward dialogue. The g..."
The vernacular was off-putting for me, as well. Not just that it was there, but because of how inconsistent it was. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for when Deeba would speak properly, and when she'd slip into slang... and when she did use slang, the whole style of her speech changed.
I wouldn't mind the whole book being in a teenage vernacular, if it truly was the whole book.
Colleen ~blackrose~ wrote: "Margot wrote: "I read to page 52 or so before deciding to cut my losses and move on to another book in my ever-growing pile of "to reads." What primarily turned me off the book was the awkward di..."
I noticed that too at first, and it annoyed me, but after a while the problem either went away or I just stopped noticing it.
I think it mostly went away, Dawn, as she didn't seem to use slang much towards the middle to the end of the book, except maybe once or twice.
...I have a theory of the whole slang thing, but can't put it forth because of the whole "no spoilers" part of this. I haven't looked at the other threads yet to see if there's an appropriate place there. If there is, I'll post it.Message 5: This book seemed much more about the crazy ideas Mieville could come up with than about character development or plot. While I enjoyed the book, around the end (90%?) I got really annoyed with his creations - for exactly that reason.
Colleen ~blackrose~ wrote: "I think it mostly went away, Dawn, as she didn't seem to use slang much towards the middle to the end of the book, except maybe once or twice."Not only weird, but inconsistent. Why make characters talk in vernacular if you're only going to forget about if half way through?
Jesi wrote: "...I have a theory of the whole slang thing, but can't put it forth because of the whole "no spoilers" part of this.Jesi, let us know if you find a place to post your theory on the subject. I'm very interested to hear it!
Margot wrote: "Jesi wrote: "...I have a theory of the whole slang thing, but can't put it forth because of the whole "no spoilers" part of this.Jesi, let us know if you find a place to post your theory on the..."
I put it here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3... :) Thank you for being interested! **blushes and hides!**
So - some have said they liked the first half better, others thought the first half slogged and picked up in the first.For those who liked one half more than the other - what did you like the most about it?
I have a theory, so let's see who liked what about which. :>
I think I liked the second half better, which is usually true for me with most books. By then I was throughly immersed in the story, and for me it didn't seem to drag very much at all for me at least. The beginning was more of an adjustment period.. Figuring out what was what and all of that.
Please - no spoilers in this thread.