esop's review
4.0
I've owned this book for several years now and am mad at myself for taking so long to read it.
This is the type of book that makes you wish you wrote it because it's just so damn clever. Clever in its structure, clever in its prose, which is always witty yet strikes with poignancy when it must and loops around on itself in surprising ways.
At one point, someone asks the narrator what something signified, and he replies that he doesn't know. I admittedly somewhat feel the same way after reading this, but it doesn't matter. The journey was so fun, so bizarre, so fascinating, I enjoyed every moment of it even if I'm not totally sure why certain things happened. It does feel like a book that will reward a reread (perhaps I should grab a paperback copy for the shelf?), although that is not to say it doesn't have a satisfying conclusion, because it absolutely does. The closing chapters had me grinning the entire time.
If you're in search of a wildly unique story told in an inventive way with characters and wordplay that will leave you laughing, then look no further. Read this now.
I've read one other book besides this one, but I'll not make the same mistake and wait so long to read the rest of St. Elmo's works.
This is the type of book that makes you wish you wrote it because it's just so damn clever. Clever in its structure, clever in its prose, which is always witty yet strikes with poignancy when it must and loops around on itself in surprising ways.
At one point, someone asks the narrator what something signified, and he replies that he doesn't know. I admittedly somewhat feel the same way after reading this, but it doesn't matter. The journey was so fun, so bizarre, so fascinating, I enjoyed every moment of it even if I'm not totally sure why certain things happened. It does feel like a book that will reward a reread (perhaps I should grab a paperback copy for the shelf?), although that is not to say it doesn't have a satisfying conclusion, because it absolutely does. The closing chapters had me grinning the entire time.
If you're in search of a wildly unique story told in an inventive way with characters and wordplay that will leave you laughing, then look no further. Read this now.
I've read one other book besides this one, but I'll not make the same mistake and wait so long to read the rest of St. Elmo's works.
lines__lines's review
4.0
Pleasantly surprised that this book came 'round to a happy ending, in its way. Enjoyed the playing with archetypes and gods. The framing device made the story that much more intriguing to follow.
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