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timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
Complex plot, Ffordean snark, interesting characters.
Perhaps too much worldbuilding, perhaps too much handwaving on the dreams.
Overall, I often felt I was in a Charles Stross (hmm, another Charlie) Laundry book.
The plot rolled out well, except for a few too many "whatever you do, don't X" making X inevitable.
Interesting taken together:
(a) did Fforde really never specify main-Charlie's gender?
(b) Fodder's big reveal seemed to generate no more than "oh yeah, huh?"
(c ) Charlie's facial situation seems to be viewed as no more remarkable than, say, red hair
(d) The whole Toccata/Aurora thing is similarly treated with shrugs
By the way, (d) didn't work for me. I'm good with the other wacky-but-implausible, but for me this was too much of a stretch.
On the whole, it's good to have JF back.
p.s. Finished this reading-in-bed, had no problem falling asleep and dreams were normal. No blue Buicks.
Perhaps too much worldbuilding, perhaps too much handwaving on the dreams.
Overall, I often felt I was in a Charles Stross (hmm, another Charlie) Laundry book.
The plot rolled out well, except for a few too many "whatever you do, don't X" making X inevitable.
Interesting taken together:
(a) did Fforde really never specify main-Charlie's gender?
(b) Fodder's big reveal seemed to generate no more than "oh yeah, huh?"
(c ) Charlie's facial situation seems to be viewed as no more remarkable than, say, red hair
(d) The whole Toccata/Aurora thing is similarly treated with shrugs
By the way, (d) didn't work for me. I'm good with the other wacky-but-implausible, but for me this was too much of a stretch.
On the whole, it's good to have JF back.
p.s. Finished this reading-in-bed, had no problem falling asleep and dreams were normal. No blue Buicks.
oldcrow1111's review against another edition
4.0
From any other author, a premise like this would lead to a dark horror story. But, from Fforde, the twisted themes and Inception-like concepts become whimsical and playful without losing their edge. This was an entertaining story - not quite as outstanding as Thursday Next (one of my favorites of all time), but still great.
ash397's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
maiakobabe's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
What a bizarre and delightful novel. It's set in an alternate history in which ice-age level cold spells cause the majority of humans to hibernate every winter, which has ripple effects on the development of technology, societal rules, culture, and family structures. Charlie Worthing was born in a "pool" in the independent nation of Wales, or a group home in which nuns dedicated to reproduction birth and raise dozens of children, in returns for credits from those who can't or don't want to have their own kids. Charlie has very few job prospects, especially ones that will give him access to morphanox, a drug which helps most people survive their months-long winter sleeps. The drug also turns about 1 in 3000 into a brain-dead zombie, but this risk is considered better odds than sleeping without it. So Charlie volunteers for the Winter Consuls, the law-keepers and problem-solvers who stay up all winter to safe guard the majority. There he has to face the three well documented dangers of winter- Vacants (zombies), Villains (the British) and Winter Volk (fairies, whose reality is debated), as well as rumors of a viral dream. The humor in this book is a close cousin to Terry Pratchett's work, in which absurdity and invention mask some pretty biting social commentary and anti-capitalist motives. I did think some of the twists at the end didn't quite pay off, however, I had such a good time with the ride this book took me on that I'd still recommend it.
gabbiec's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
gabrielleint's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like I would have loved this book way more if I had read it before I read Shades of Grey. The world in this book is so interesting and I loved it but it was less fleshed out and less all-encompassing than the world in Shades of Grey so I felt a little let down.
However, it’s still an amazing book. Fforde is so good at making lovable characters with very little space in the book devoted to character development, allowing the plot to roll on and the worldbuilding to expand while still feeling you know the characters well enough to be invested and to like them. This book has a lot of humor and absurdity that is so delightful to read. I wish the pacing had been faster and the plot felt more urgent—I felt we knew too much about the secrets of the world too early on. But it was still such a charming read and probably if this were written by someone who did not write Shades of Grey it would be a five star read.
blueevangeline's review against another edition
Forced pregnancy and child death as world building. Didn't think to check content warnings on something marked funny and lighthearted.
chelseamguy's review
5.0
So weird, so good, ended a little more abruptly than maybe I would have liked but good!!
jenmcvay's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75