tagbot's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
Don't give up on this book until you reach the plot twist. The text is prose heavy, voyeuristic, and choked with false nostalgia, but once the context of the plot comes into full view you begin to appreciate that these "flaws" are the very foundation of the story. Plascencia's boundless creativity is a testament to the amount of potential he has as a writer.
orb12um's review against another edition
5.0
Criticims of this book often are that the novel is too high on substance rather than content. Frankly, I find this a rather redundant viewpoint.
Plascencia's style allows the substance of the novel to be explored in an unconventional and different way. The baby Nostradamus for instance being blacked out instead of saying 'he didn't speak' allows the reader to infer their own image of the text.
I recognise to some aspect the self-fulfilling nature of placing himself as the main character but the evolution of the novel and exploring the relationship between not only characters and the page but the novelist, their real life and the page is a dynamic often left unexplored.
I found this novels characters separate and endearing, leaving one desiring to know what happens to every single one of them. The confusion that exists is designed to challenge us and challenge the way we interpret novels.
A thoroughly enjoying and different read.
Plascencia's style allows the substance of the novel to be explored in an unconventional and different way. The baby Nostradamus for instance being blacked out instead of saying 'he didn't speak' allows the reader to infer their own image of the text.
I recognise to some aspect the self-fulfilling nature of placing himself as the main character but the evolution of the novel and exploring the relationship between not only characters and the page but the novelist, their real life and the page is a dynamic often left unexplored.
I found this novels characters separate and endearing, leaving one desiring to know what happens to every single one of them. The confusion that exists is designed to challenge us and challenge the way we interpret novels.
A thoroughly enjoying and different read.
paintedgiraffe's review against another edition
1.0
Finished this at about 2am last night/this morning. It was... well, overall it was okay. I really liked the post-modernism style. But by the end I *really* had a problem with how the author portrayed women. I've only come across two men in the published world who can accurately portray the female mind. The writer of this book seems to think that women have sex on their mind constantly, and that when they have free time, lay in their bed just wishing to "make love". Ugh!
[edit]Went back to look at my review and others'. Astounded that anyone managed to actually like this book with the rampaging misogyny in it. Sickening.
[edit]Went back to look at my review and others'. Astounded that anyone managed to actually like this book with the rampaging misogyny in it. Sickening.
evthomo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
5.0
lifesaverscandyofficial's review against another edition
literally zero idea as to how this was written which I mean in the kindest and most profound sense
sabra's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
megan_lamoreaux's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
hayley_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0