Flawless! This is a novella with a powerful punch. Psychological depth, emotional investment, intrigue, and so very concise. All that in such a short Flawless! This is a novella with a powerful punch. Psychological depth, emotional investment, intrigue, and so very concise. All that in such a short work of fiction. What a literary masterpiece. ...more
I'm rather disappointed with this novel. The three parts reminded me of The Old Man and the Sea with the whole over-extended fishing scene (100 pagesI'm rather disappointed with this novel. The three parts reminded me of The Old Man and the Sea with the whole over-extended fishing scene (100 pages... I think) and For Whom the Bell Tolls when we're suddenly at the last part of Thomas Hudson's life following his hunt for Nazis... It comes across as a rather disjointed novel where I never really connect to Thomas Hudson and I don't really know what Hemingway wants me to feel or make of this character's story. Instead, I feel it's the author's own goodbye to the world and that he has explored and exhausted the few themes he always writes about (fishing, war and sex) to their fullest and nothing original is left to be said.
The dialogue scenes with the prostitue and with Hudson's old flame are ridiculous. The grief of the loss of the couple's son is overshadowed by the need to have a rekindled one-night stand... there is a lot missing to fully flesh out Thomas Hudson. I would only recommend this book to a Hemingway completionist like myself....more
Er... how do I go about telling myself I had to dump a book by one of my favourite authors? I was bored stiff and I have no idea if it's because of MaEr... how do I go about telling myself I had to dump a book by one of my favourite authors? I was bored stiff and I have no idea if it's because of Malory's original or Steinbeck take, but either way, it was dry, stiff, and I was disengaged. There was just no point to go on....more
DNF. The love of language is so important (and granted, the writing is gorgeous) that that's all there is... the pacing suffers, the character's are jDNF. The love of language is so important (and granted, the writing is gorgeous) that that's all there is... the pacing suffers, the character's are just too distant, the dialogue too sparse and... frankly I got bored stiff....more
When I read Chiang's first collection I was blown away. 15 years later, he has performed the same feat. Utterly wonderful to read such masterpieces thWhen I read Chiang's first collection I was blown away. 15 years later, he has performed the same feat. Utterly wonderful to read such masterpieces that make me think, ponder and question humanity and the possible consequences of our scientific achievements. But, as someone who just loves a well-written story, Ted Chiang never disappoints. This makes him very special because there are too few science-fiction writers I read who I can also praise as fantastic writers, those who have nailed the craft in their own distinctive style while bringing forth their brilliant ideas and insights. I don't mind waiting another 15 years if it means I can read a third collection like this one!...more
Ooh, I so wanted to love this and continue with the rest of the series, especially because my partner loves them. Alas, the inertia within the first 2Ooh, I so wanted to love this and continue with the rest of the series, especially because my partner loves them. Alas, the inertia within the first 200 pages (with the exception of the beast attacking - 3 pages or so) and the dullness of the characters forced me to abandon this. ...more
Excessively boring after 100 pages. How much can you read about the different sexual habits, interests, problems, etc of different people when the 'inExcessively boring after 100 pages. How much can you read about the different sexual habits, interests, problems, etc of different people when the 'interview' is not really an interview but just people spewing forth their sex lives. It sounds a lot more interesting than what it is. There is little here that any well-read person would not already know about sex. At least in fiction we learn or imagine much of these types of lives about characters. The focus of the book is too narrow which is quite ridiculous since the word sex encompasses much more than just outright sex. It is a pity that depth is not a scope of this book so that there could have actually been 'interviews' whereby themes could be further explored and, dare I say, some input from the author. Maurer here feels like someone taking the burdensome task of transcribing all this and that's it. That immediately makes this book outdated. We have the internet to learn about sex and people's confessions about sex. I missed psychological analysis or just any analysis for that matter. There really was no point in reading this and after 100 pages I stopped....more
Dnf. Oh what a shame! Yet another fantasy disappointment. Two stars because the writing is decent which kept me going up to page 120. I’m glad adverbsDnf. Oh what a shame! Yet another fantasy disappointment. Two stars because the writing is decent which kept me going up to page 120. I’m glad adverbs were kept to a minimum and the ‘said’ tag was mainly used. Pity Sanderson felt the need to over explain (repeat) himself at times. But… I was bored out if my mind and I couldn’t connect with any single character. In other words, no emotional depth. The pacing is an issue as the reader is bogged down in minute, mundane details and banter (the while dinner meal between Sarene and her in-laws). ...more
At least one more year for the final installment! Damn that’s long. The writing, storytelling, and progression are top notch in this series. If the seAt least one more year for the final installment! Damn that’s long. The writing, storytelling, and progression are top notch in this series. If the second book took some getting used to with the different third person pov’s, then this one required even more adapting with shifting perspectives of the story from different characters (not my favorite but once again Bancroft’s masterful skill pulls it off).
I also found the slow down after the awesome first person perspective of Senlin’s section quite tedious. The introduction of Ann and the many developing relationships was a tad too much into the romantic. But when I skim read those few annoying chapters and the plot finally kicked in again, I was full devoted to the last page. So why 5 stars and not 4? Because most of the novel is great that those few annoying chapters are negligible. How often can you say that about a book?...more
Took a while to get used to the POV shift from Senlin to third-person... at first, I thought oh-oh a quick fix to solve some overall structure - aka lTook a while to get used to the POV shift from Senlin to third-person... at first, I thought oh-oh a quick fix to solve some overall structure - aka lazy writing. But even I didn't really believe my prejudice because if anything, Bancroft is no lazy writer. I mean the world-building and the creativity from one page to the next, as well as the deliciously sculpted prose all left me wondering 'where are the really talented writers in the world?' - this dude has set the bar so high for genre writers.
To me, Bancroft's Babel series is as literary as one can get when it comes to genre fiction. You know what, just read this damn series because I simply cannot convey the brilliance of it.
And for those who think switching to the third person was wrong... I have never seen a more valid reason to do so. Basically, Senlin was the focal character in book 1, but as we discover the tower and all the new wonders and characters, the story outgrows Senlin to encompass a whole lot more. There is nothing technical, gimmicky or literary about the POV switch, it is simply what is needed to tell the story. The story is bigger than Bancroft and even bigger than Senlin.
DNF. Good writing but I was bored out of my mind. I just could not care enough for spoiled brat Grady so whatever disaster she was about to ensue on aDNF. Good writing but I was bored out of my mind. I just could not care enough for spoiled brat Grady so whatever disaster she was about to ensue on and the consequences thereof had no effect on me....more
A rather linear story with a typical relationship breakdown pattern. The averageness of love and sex and the neurotic attitudes of the characters remiA rather linear story with a typical relationship breakdown pattern. The averageness of love and sex and the neurotic attitudes of the characters reminded me of Woody Allen movies. They too get really boring after a while, constantly recycling the same formula. There is nothing especially amazing in the artwork of this graphic novel and it is a very quick read. ...more
DNF. I wanted to like this but I simply could not get into it. Very bland and the narrator was too distant and objective, coupled with a more formal rDNF. I wanted to like this but I simply could not get into it. Very bland and the narrator was too distant and objective, coupled with a more formal register, it just didn’t work for me....more
Although fascinated by how DeLillo could stretch a moment of time to its minutest by exploring both the psychological depth of thoughts and sensory awAlthough fascinated by how DeLillo could stretch a moment of time to its minutest by exploring both the psychological depth of thoughts and sensory awareness of the surroundings, in the opening section of this novella, it was not nearly enough to keep me interested in the rest of the story. His style is simply not for me. It is too abstract, too self-conscious, to have an impactful emotional effect. Dumped half-way through....more
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