November Random Read--Neuromancer

[Megan]

I just wrote a review of Neuromancer in which I was trying to grapple with why I just don't get Gibson. Again. It's not that I don't like Neuromancer, just that it leaves me entirely cold.

This was the second or third time I've read the book, and it still hasn't won me over.

It's too bad.

[Aloha]

Megan, a writing style is like food, different people have different tastes. It makes the world go round. Thank goodness, there are varying writing styles to choose from.

[Aloha]

Oscar, writers that paint words with strokes appeal to me more than writers who lay everything out. I get bored with things being laid out to me, because I love the stimulation of figuring things out, just as much as I love the mystery of puzzles.

[Megan]

I know that, I'm just saying that despite trying repeatedly, Gibson is not to my taste. This isn't to say that anyone else is wrong, but it's not for me.

As to the words with strokes, that's fine, but with Neuromancer, I found it impossible to tell what was detail, what was colour, what was clue. The strokes were far too numerous. I don't need to be led by the hand from a to b to z, and I did get what was going on, but there was no point at which I felt like the book wanted to challenge me to figure it out for myself. To me, it just wanted to remain opaque, and then reveal its secrets at the end, like a magician who shows you the prestige, but not the trick.

[Aloha]

LOL. That's how I feel about some of the performance art I saw in my art school days.

[Mark]

Writing with strokes instead of details is an interesting way to describe Gibson's writing. After finished Neuromancer, I moved to something completely different: The Last Unicorn. While it is a completely different book, I see Beagle's style as writing with strokes, albeit with fairy tale brushes, somewhat like Gibson does. It does help that this novel is much easier to follow.

[Robert]

I first read Neuromancer about 20 years ago. I was wondering how it would stand up to a 2nd reading and whether I would feel the need to reduce my rating from 5 stars. I'm half way through it now, and I'm really enjoying it. It's probably going to stay at 5 stars, partly because of what it did to redefine science fiction way back then, but mostly just because I like it.

[Maggie, space cruisin' for a bruisin']

Im taking a long time to finish this one...not that Im not enjoying it (I think its going to be a favorite) but the edition I have has such small print! I get a head ache if I read more than a chapter....lol

Oh well, I will finish eventually!

[mark, personal space invader]

per Aloha's suggestion, here is an Exquisite Corpse Review of this novel, featuring this thread. it's also in reverse. well, that killed an hour.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Aloha]

LMAO!!!! That was a brilliant review. Just like painted strokes composed of this thread! LOL!!! You gave me such a good laugh. Thanks, Mark.

[mark, personal space invader]

my pleasure! it was fun to do, completely due to all the interesting and insightful and honest comments in this thread.

[Rachel]

I just finished Neuromancer last night and I'm not sure I got it. Whenever I felt like I did, something would happen and I'd lose my sense of understanding again. I also had trouble connecting with some of the characters. Kind of a disappointment since I love movies like Bladerunner, The Matrix, and Tron.

[Maggie, space cruisin' for a bruisin']

Definitely going to require a re-read! But I am in awe of the imagery!