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reallivejim's review against another edition
Couldn’t convince myself of any redeeming aspects to this one, then John Barth died and I said to myself—huh, I should finally read a Barth. Was relieved to have an excuse to give up. Much as I enjoyed Woman in the Dunes, I really found The Secret Rendezvous and what I read of this to be stilted, unearned attempts at dream-logic that don’t come close to the adequate emotional or psychological saturation an author needs to effect in order to coax magic from that type of storytelling.
plinkybalermo's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
hieronymusbotched's review against another edition
4.0
It’s not got quite the humor or horror of Secret Rendezvous, but another worthwhile bit of anxiety and alienation from a growing favorite of mine. Looking forward to reading more of him.
subvino's review against another edition
2.0
I technically started this last year, put it down forever, and just forced myself to finish it.
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
3.0
On the surface, this is a story about a private investigator who is hired to track down a husband who went missing several months prior. In many ways, it reminded me of a noir novel. It was a gritty tale that took the unnamed investigator to seedy sites as he tried to track down the missing husband. He came across many Illicit activities and underworld criminals, causing him to imagine a variety of possible scenarios. However, the story took on surreal, psychological twists and challenged the reader as the story progressed. For that reason, this book didn't quite fit into a classic crime genre. Instead, the reader was taken on a journey in which reality and fantasy became one and the reader was left wondering how the transformation they'd just witnessed occurred. I ended up reading a few reviews of this book and the author's wider body of work after I finished reading this book, which helped clarify some of the plot points and let me know I was not alone in being mystified by others.
ruairim95's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Sexism, and Sexual content
conquixote's review against another edition
3.0
I hated this book at first and the frankly incessant noting of details only insane people would notice, but as it veers away from the traditional detective tropes and becomes more of a psychological examination of the main character, it really picks up. I’m just sad that this quite good and interesting ending requires getting through around 230 pages of pointless dialogue and laborious fact-dumping!
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
3.0
Maps Of Mystery
This book is a captivating mystery novel that explores the depths of human experience and understanding.
It offers a unique departure from Kōbō's previous works and offers an insightful perspective on the genre of mystery novels. I found it interesting how it was a blend of crime fiction and philosophical musings, which created a thought-provoking reading experience.
The backdrop of the mystery adds an extra layer of intrigue to the already rich themes of self-discovery and introspection.
The writing style is rich and evocative, and the characters are well-crafted and memorable. The narrative flows smoothly and kept me engaged throughout.
The background and setting of the book are skillfully crafted, providing a rich and immersive environment for the reader.
The introspective themes that Kōbō is known for are also evident in this novel, making it an enjoyable read for those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives.
While this may not be the author's best work, it is still a worthwhile read for fans of mystery novels and those interested in exploring the human condition.
Overall, I liked it, and in no way was it a ruined book.
3.7/5
This book is a captivating mystery novel that explores the depths of human experience and understanding.
It offers a unique departure from Kōbō's previous works and offers an insightful perspective on the genre of mystery novels. I found it interesting how it was a blend of crime fiction and philosophical musings, which created a thought-provoking reading experience.
The backdrop of the mystery adds an extra layer of intrigue to the already rich themes of self-discovery and introspection.
The writing style is rich and evocative, and the characters are well-crafted and memorable. The narrative flows smoothly and kept me engaged throughout.
The background and setting of the book are skillfully crafted, providing a rich and immersive environment for the reader.
The introspective themes that Kōbō is known for are also evident in this novel, making it an enjoyable read for those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives.
While this may not be the author's best work, it is still a worthwhile read for fans of mystery novels and those interested in exploring the human condition.
Overall, I liked it, and in no way was it a ruined book.
3.7/5
smalefowles's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, I very personally am giving this three stars, because parts of it really became a slog for me, but it's most likely a four star book.
A younger me would have liked it much more--been more patient with its postmodernisms, and accepting of its male fantasies. I would recommend reading it on paper, since I think the kindle marred the reading experience. The ending was more satisfying than I expected, but I had sort of given up by that point.
In any case, a decent example of the sort of thing you'd like if you like that sort of thing.
A younger me would have liked it much more--been more patient with its postmodernisms, and accepting of its male fantasies. I would recommend reading it on paper, since I think the kindle marred the reading experience. The ending was more satisfying than I expected, but I had sort of given up by that point.
In any case, a decent example of the sort of thing you'd like if you like that sort of thing.