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daja57's review against another edition
5.0
A veteran of the Falklands War (ex SAS) and a Hippy spend their summer designing and creating crop circles.
This novel seems to have an unorthodox narrative structure: each 'chapter' describes the creation of a new crop circle and the reaction to it. Each creation encounters a different sort of challenge. But the narrative progresses through our deeper understanding of each character and of their relationship, of their relationship to and appreciation of their environment, and of the human impulse to create art, even when no-one will ever know their names.
The way the author reveals the characters, step by step, in all their complexities, makes them utterly realistic. It probably helps that there are only two of them (compare, for example, with Black Cake, in which there are at least ten different narrative viewpoints resulting in flimsy two-dimensional characters)
But what blew me away was the author's lyrical prose.
One of the best books I have read this year. An almost perfect novel. Beautiful language and utterly believable characters.
This novel seems to have an unorthodox narrative structure: each 'chapter' describes the creation of a new crop circle and the reaction to it. Each creation encounters a different sort of challenge. But the narrative progresses through our deeper understanding of each character and of their relationship, of their relationship to and appreciation of their environment, and of the human impulse to create art, even when no-one will ever know their names.
The way the author reveals the characters, step by step, in all their complexities, makes them utterly realistic. It probably helps that there are only two of them (compare, for example, with Black Cake, in which there are at least ten different narrative viewpoints resulting in flimsy two-dimensional characters)
But what blew me away was the author's lyrical prose.
One of the best books I have read this year. An almost perfect novel. Beautiful language and utterly believable characters.
luckyluc27's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mycroft's review
4.0
A lovely summer adventure about two men united by their love of nature and, more importantly, crop circles. As someone who also likes nature and crop circles, this was an enjoyable read, and has me equally nostalgic for and excited about the long summer days ahead.
purplefish101's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bonnnnied's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
retrophrenologist's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lilibuus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Poetically written