I don't read many comics or graphic novels in any given year. From time to time, one looks interesting enough to Emotional and Accessible - 5 Stars
I don't read many comics or graphic novels in any given year. From time to time, one looks interesting enough to pick up and read through. Being that this is set where I live and grew up, the story was especially significant.
There are several stories in the work told from the perspective of three main characters. Essex County is the major connection between the stories. The setting is developed to the point that it becomes a character and he uses several plot devices that make it feel that the setting is living and breathing.
The device I most enjoyed with the use of the crow throughout the story. Those who live in Essex County are familiar with the bird. For years they plagued county and murders of crow could be found dotting the landscape, filling trees, weighing down electric line and eating any garbage in sight. Thought the day, the sound of gunshots were played on loudspeakers to scare the birds away. The crow became a symbol of our region. While I think the story allows a reader to understand this symbol, and others in the story, are representative of the setting, it was regional knowledge of these symbols that made the story even more special.
Don't misunderstand, the reader need not possess insider knowledge to understand the story. On its own, the story is complex and exudes emotion in the way that only a graphic novel can. It does a wonderful job of exploring themes such as shared history, the need to belong and loneliness. This is mature story with many layers and plenty of imagery. I strongly urge you to read this....more
4 Stars or 5 Stars. 4 Stars or 5 Stars. 4 Stars or 5 Stars. Choosing mPosted to The Literary Lawyer.ca
Pretention vs. Enjoyment - 4 vs. 5 Stars
4 Stars or 5 Stars. 4 Stars or 5 Stars. 4 Stars or 5 Stars. Choosing my rating tends to be an easy choice. The pretentious reviewer in me thought I should go with 4 stars. The down to earth guy who loves a good yarn thought this was worth all 5. In this case, enjoyment won out over pretention and 5 stars rule the day.
Plot Summary
The story follows Alex, a down and out journalist. Her life is controlled by serious alcohol addiction and as a result has lost her family, friends, career and self worth. While attending the neuro-disability floor of her local hospital to follow up a piece on a local doctor, Alex meets Amy Stevenson. Amy was the victim of an unsolved crime committed some 15 years earlier. Since her attack, she has been living in her hospital bed, having suffered a serious head injury. While most people would say she was in a "vegetative state", she did have brain activity which allowed for some rudimentary communication. Being the same age as Amy and recalling the disturbing events of years previous, Alex decides to write a story on Amy and attempt to dig up new information. As Amy follows the crumbs toward Amy's attacker, Alex embarks on a journey of self discovery and must face her own demons while chasing the ghosts of Amy's past.
My Take
I was hooked. The book had me from the beginning and held on until the end. I enjoyed the concept of the book and Alex's investigation. An alcoholic character investigating a crime? That has been used to death. Normally, I would roll my eyes at the lack of imagination. Where this differed though, is the portrayal of the alcoholism. It was a deadly problem for Alex and a serious compulsion, yet she was functioning. Her world was built around a addiction that was killing her, yet she managed to construct an artificial world with its own sets of rules and regulations. By strict adherence, she managed to combine the real world with her internal world. As an interesting parallel, we are also privy to the internal consciousness of Amy and how her stunted consciousness interacts with and interprets the real world. The unconsciously constructed world of Amy and the consciously constructed world of Alex allowed for an unlikely bonding and connection.
There were issues with the book. At times, the writing was unnecessarily opaque and attempts to obscure certain elements only highlighted those elements as important. In my mind, this was the biggest downfall of the novel. In future novels, I would expect the author to improve the skill of misdirection. The best magicians make you look where they want without telling you to do so. Like many other reviewers, I picked up on the attackers identity long before the end and I guessed many of the events that surrounded that reveal.
The reviewer in me would hold these issues against the writer but the reader in me didn't find it fair. I was hooked on the story and couldn't wait to pick it back up. For me, this novel didn't hinge on the resolution to Amy's story. I was engaged with the characters, their development and the manner in which they coped. They story was about the characters and not the criminal. I was engaged in the journey and less about the destination.
Final Thoughts
Had the novel been less engaging, my rating would have been reduced. The author has crafted an excellent debut novel and left me hopeful of other compelling work to come. This title will be released on February 23, 2015. I highly recommend you preorder your copy today or stop by your local bookstore next week. I would expect this title to sell very well.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2.5
Much of the back story revolves around a single sexual experience. It is often discussed but it is not graphic.
It has been a few years since a story has captivated me so completely. Several days after finishing this novel, I str A Magical Journey - 5 Stars
It has been a few years since a story has captivated me so completely. Several days after finishing this novel, I struggle to find the words to express my feelings. For me, The Shadow of the Wind is a novel that has a mind, emotions and a soul. It was a story within a story in which the reader becomes a participant. Through the eyes of Julian we see death and resurrection. Through Daniel we see a parallel with the benefit of foresight. Through the eyes of each reader, we connect the enduring themes to the parallels in our own lives. A truly remarkable experience.
Plot
The story unfolds in several layers. At its base, it is a coming of age story of young Daniel Sempere. The son of a single father and bookstore owner, Daniel is taught early a love for the written word. Daniel's world is changed on the day his father brings him the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. As a repository of rare books and books in danger of disappearing forever, Daniel is told to choose a book for which he is to become guardian. Daniel chooses a sparsely published book by the obscure author, Julian Carax. Daniel begins a journey to learn of the book's origins, the reasons for its rarity and the story behind the enigma that is Julian Carax. Daniel soon finds himself tangled in a web of shared history, revenge, lost love and the pursuit of purpose through art.
My Take
This novel was engaging in most every aspect. The plot was gracefully constructed. The reader was taken on a personal journey in which the protagonist learned about himself through the history of an underappreciated, little know author. The plot was deeply layered and expertly drew parallels in the life of protagonist and life and trials of the mysterious author. On its surface, the mission undertaken by Daniel appears unimportant and unduly dangerous, yet both Daniel and the reader become desperate to understand the mystery and the humanity of Julian.
Despite the attention to plot, the characters do not suffer neglect. Daniel is young, innocent and naïve but he is able to understand the complexities he discovers though the mentorship of his older, streetwise friend, Fermin. Although Fermin occasionally teeters on the edge of stereotype, his carefree and careless shamelessness is a striking contrast to the brooding intensity and youth of Daniel. Daniel and Julian are crafted with such care that a fan of the character novel, will find much to appreciate.
Much of what I enjoyed in this novel is intangible and distinctly emotional. The story was able to elicit the feelings of the awe of youth, the kinetic excitement of young love and the blind intensity of youth. The reader experiences this, not through the manipulation of the their emotions but with an empathy of shared experience.
Final Thoughts
At some time in the future, I will come back to this story and reflect on the novel's allure. Maybe at that time, I will better be able to explain my thoughts and reactions. Until that time, contemplate the emotions emanating from your own experience and imagine a story that shares those dreams, fear and desires. An amazing novel and the newest addition to my all time Top 10 list.
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2.5
There are several instance of sexual encounters. The instances are mild and are not descriptive. The content is not graphic.
One of the characters has suffered a lifetime of violence. While the descriptions are not graphic, he suffered abuse and other violence through his life. A character is found badly beaten as a result of his sexual orientation. There are several murders discussed in the book as well as knife/gun fight. Violence plays a role in the background but is rarely graphic in nature....more
Tim The Enchanter
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