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heylook's review against another edition
1.0
Okay, this is another one of those fantasy books with a bunch of made-up names and places, which is obnoxious enough, but then it's another god damn journey quest against all powerful evil or something. The theme underlying it all is apparently the power of telling stories, but all that means is that there are dozens of asides that go off into different narratives (poetry AND prose) so it's all just a big muddle of extraneous material with no real bearing on the plot. Masturbatory self-indulgence.
sydneyjn's review against another edition
This was so beautifully written and so damn boring.
littlemegs's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
sarabz's review against another edition
4.0
Although the style of the book didn't fully grab me, I enjoyed the story and there was a lot of thought provoking stuff in here. The dense prose was a little too much for my tastes, although there were sections that totally drew me in.
I enjoyed the self-interested and selfish characters that are caught up in their own experiences but that also impact and influence the world around them, someones deliberately sometimes but often accidentally. This happens at every level of the story (there are stories within stories throughout the book).
And even though I spent a couple hours discussing it last night with a book group, there is still more that I'll be digesting and thinking about: Traveling, exploration, being a stranger and also belonging. The expression and communication of self and community that is accomplished through stories - both written and oral (although they are so different and can convey such different things). Literacy and access to resources impacting whose voices and stories get heard.
I enjoyed the self-interested and selfish characters that are caught up in their own experiences but that also impact and influence the world around them, someones deliberately sometimes but often accidentally. This happens at every level of the story (there are stories within stories throughout the book).
And even though I spent a couple hours discussing it last night with a book group, there is still more that I'll be digesting and thinking about: Traveling, exploration, being a stranger and also belonging. The expression and communication of self and community that is accomplished through stories - both written and oral (although they are so different and can convey such different things). Literacy and access to resources impacting whose voices and stories get heard.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
3.0
This is a lyrical, beautifully-written fantasy with many smaller stories contained within the larger tale. A major theme is the significance of books and of reading, and, in particular, there are two paragraphs that describe the experience of coming to the end of a book that are quite wonderful. Yet the prose is so lyrical that I was often aware of the wording rather than falling into the story itself. Also, for a large part of the book, the first-person narrator didn't care enough about anyone else for me to care about him. Had I liked the narrator throughout, I would have loved the book. As it is, I liked it and I admire the writing.
_ash0_'s review against another edition
DNF @ 10 pages
Way too boring. The poetic writing style didn't work for me. I gave this book multiple tries but it's high time I made some space on my shelf by getting rid of this book.
Way too boring. The poetic writing style didn't work for me. I gave this book multiple tries but it's high time I made some space on my shelf by getting rid of this book.
rodneywilhite's review against another edition
4.0
As much as I loved this book, I will admit the first hundred pages are a bit of a chore. The focus on the anthropology of this created world, although fascinating, is extraordinarily dense.
Oh, but when the story kicks in, the story kicks in--and it assumes a dizzying pace that never relents until the end. I will admit I was sometimes lost, but the language is so gorgeous, the world-building so complex, I was happily lost.
I read The Winged Histories first and, although the two novels can stand alone, there are a number of things that would've been much clearer if I had read this one first. But, by all means, read them both because they are wonderful!
Oh, but when the story kicks in, the story kicks in--and it assumes a dizzying pace that never relents until the end. I will admit I was sometimes lost, but the language is so gorgeous, the world-building so complex, I was happily lost.
I read The Winged Histories first and, although the two novels can stand alone, there are a number of things that would've been much clearer if I had read this one first. But, by all means, read them both because they are wonderful!
craftysilicate's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0