ladilira's review against another edition
4.0
As many people know by now, I am a fan of Kozeniewski, maybe even a bit of a fangirl.
::blushes sheepishly::
So, when asked to read and review his newest novel, I of course said yes. It doesn't matter to me what he is writing, I will read it. Even if the topic doesn't sound like something I would normally pick up. He is an excellent storyteller. There are a few elements that are classic Kozeniewski — a light tone that pervades many of his novels (no matter how dark and grimy), a sarcastic and quib speaking narrator delighting my funny-bone, and always an interesting ending that I didn't see coming. This story was true to the Kozeniewski I have come to know as an author. And as a result, I enjoyed it.
I wasn't sure where the story was going all the time, or exactly why we were going at all, but I didn't care. I was drawn into the flashback-telling narrator as he told his tale of adventure to the man with a gun to his head. It was just a crazy story, that you might hear over a glass of Old Crow. It was fitting.
If you are a fan of the movie Inglorious Basterds, Kozeniewski might be an author for you. There is a large vein of that kind of humor that seeps onto the pages of Kozeniewski's stories.
What I didn't enjoy has nothing to do with him as an author, but has to do more with the publishing team. His editor/proofer failed him a bit, at least for the version I received. I know this book would have benefited from another editing review. I was surprised because I am used to his books being very clean. I'll blame it on the publisher being green? I hope in time they will enhance their editing focus. It let's the reader and author down.
Regardless, this is still a Kozeniewski novel and deserves to be read. It's labeled as a sci-fi story, but really it's the subgenre dystopian fiction.
If you like death defying, smart talking protagonists, who never have anything dull to say, then you will likely enjoy this story as much as I did.
It's a new take, on a popular genre. As always, Kozeniewski brings his full imagination and gift of language to the story and I am happy to have had the chance to read it.
https://cellardoorbooks.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/every-kingdom-divided-stephen-kozeniewski/
::blushes sheepishly::
So, when asked to read and review his newest novel, I of course said yes. It doesn't matter to me what he is writing, I will read it. Even if the topic doesn't sound like something I would normally pick up. He is an excellent storyteller. There are a few elements that are classic Kozeniewski — a light tone that pervades many of his novels (no matter how dark and grimy), a sarcastic and quib speaking narrator delighting my funny-bone, and always an interesting ending that I didn't see coming. This story was true to the Kozeniewski I have come to know as an author. And as a result, I enjoyed it.
I wasn't sure where the story was going all the time, or exactly why we were going at all, but I didn't care. I was drawn into the flashback-telling narrator as he told his tale of adventure to the man with a gun to his head. It was just a crazy story, that you might hear over a glass of Old Crow. It was fitting.
If you are a fan of the movie Inglorious Basterds, Kozeniewski might be an author for you. There is a large vein of that kind of humor that seeps onto the pages of Kozeniewski's stories.
What I didn't enjoy has nothing to do with him as an author, but has to do more with the publishing team. His editor/proofer failed him a bit, at least for the version I received. I know this book would have benefited from another editing review. I was surprised because I am used to his books being very clean. I'll blame it on the publisher being green? I hope in time they will enhance their editing focus. It let's the reader and author down.
Regardless, this is still a Kozeniewski novel and deserves to be read. It's labeled as a sci-fi story, but really it's the subgenre dystopian fiction.
If you like death defying, smart talking protagonists, who never have anything dull to say, then you will likely enjoy this story as much as I did.
It's a new take, on a popular genre. As always, Kozeniewski brings his full imagination and gift of language to the story and I am happy to have had the chance to read it.
https://cellardoorbooks.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/every-kingdom-divided-stephen-kozeniewski/
never_too_many_books's review
4.0
Actually rating: 4.5 stars
This is one of those books that I found immensely fascinating the entire time but couldn't decide whether I loved it or not until the end. This book is extremely well written and the story-telling method is unique (in all the best ways!).
The protagonist, Jack, has a dry sense of humor that very much appealed to me. Although I didn't find him personally relatable, he was a well-developed character and I truly enjoyed his story.
The most interesting thing about this book is the way it is told. At the beginning of the story, Jack is in front of a firing squad. He gets off the hook by being granted his last request, which was to "plead his case." The entire story, up until the final 50 pages, is composed of chapters that alternate between his tale and his current situation. This story-telling method makes it very difficult to lay the book aside! You cannot simply stop at the end of the chapter. The author is adept at perfectly placed cliff-hangers; so once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down! Like Graves, you'll want to "find out how it ends."
Another thing that amused me about this book is that the author, for the most part, created his own slang/profanities. I thought this was great because 1. It added to the setting of the story, and 2. It meant there was very little real cussing in the book, which I appreciated.
This book was surprisingly deep. The plot of this dystopian story revolves around primarily two sorts of people: the over-zealous Christians and the extreme atheists. Everything is black and white to each side. By the end of the story, it has become clear that things aren't always black and white. Situations aren't, religion isn't, and people most certainly aren't. Everyone has their good and their bad sides. But at the end of the day, we are all still human beings and each of us matters.
Overall, this book was engaging, well thought out, and well-written. I will definitely be recommending it!
This is one of those books that I found immensely fascinating the entire time but couldn't decide whether I loved it or not until the end. This book is extremely well written and the story-telling method is unique (in all the best ways!).
The protagonist, Jack, has a dry sense of humor that very much appealed to me. Although I didn't find him personally relatable, he was a well-developed character and I truly enjoyed his story.
The most interesting thing about this book is the way it is told. At the beginning of the story, Jack is in front of a firing squad. He gets off the hook by being granted his last request, which was to "plead his case." The entire story, up until the final 50 pages, is composed of chapters that alternate between his tale and his current situation. This story-telling method makes it very difficult to lay the book aside! You cannot simply stop at the end of the chapter. The author is adept at perfectly placed cliff-hangers; so once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down! Like Graves, you'll want to "find out how it ends."
Another thing that amused me about this book is that the author, for the most part, created his own slang/profanities. I thought this was great because 1. It added to the setting of the story, and 2. It meant there was very little real cussing in the book, which I appreciated.
This book was surprisingly deep. The plot of this dystopian story revolves around primarily two sorts of people: the over-zealous Christians and the extreme atheists. Everything is black and white to each side. By the end of the story, it has become clear that things aren't always black and white. Situations aren't, religion isn't, and people most certainly aren't. Everyone has their good and their bad sides. But at the end of the day, we are all still human beings and each of us matters.
Overall, this book was engaging, well thought out, and well-written. I will definitely be recommending it!
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