bookivore's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is an interesting book with some intriguing concepts, painting a picture of a society not too far removed from reality. Magic, politics, and ethics all play pivotal roles.
It doesn't feel like it's put together quite right, though. The Waldo chapters are good in their own right, but don't have a function in the narrative that I could identify. As for the rest of the book, it could have been pared down to a single story line and made into a dynamic short story (or two). For a longer piece it needed more fleshing out, development and connections to work to its full potential.
It doesn't feel like it's put together quite right, though. The Waldo chapters are good in their own right, but don't have a function in the narrative that I could identify. As for the rest of the book, it could have been pared down to a single story line and made into a dynamic short story (or two). For a longer piece it needed more fleshing out, development and connections to work to its full potential.
imaginary_space's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
An engaging speculative fiction novel. I requested this book because of the intriguing cover design, which I rarely ever do, so kudos to whoever was responsible for it. I was rewarded with interesting worldbuilding, several POV characters (which I always enjoy) and some cool story ideas. Oh, and I love birds, so that helped.
"Paperclip" is not the first novel in Doubinsky's alternate reality universe of competing city-states, but the first one I have read and for me, it totally worked as a standalone. I never had the feeling I was missing some vital information from a previous book. This seems to be the case with all his novels, so if this fictional universe sounds like something you might be interested in, I suggest you chose whichever book appeals most to you.
I found a lot to like about this book. The bird chapters were what I loved most, not just because I like birds, but because I found them to contain the best writing and some very interesting insight and inner monologue. The worldbuilding is interesting, fans of speculative ficiton will find some creative, yet believable ideas. The characters are layered, not simply good or bad. Everyone is good, but everyone's also an asshole in some capacity. Their motivations are clear and understandable. All in all, just what I like in my POV characters.
The story is driven by the characters and their actions, it has layers and touches on a lot of subjects. Things that do not seem connected in the beginning tie together in the end, motivations that are not clear at first glance become understandable later. There are some disctinct surreal elements that, in my opinion, go nicely with the more down-to-earth and plausible worldbuilding. Not everything is explained or even resolved. I like this in a story, but I am aware this is a matter of personal taste. The choice pays off and makes this story more intriguing.
What I did struggle with was the writing. The chapters were too short for my taste, so there was a lot of jumping around between the different POVs. The characters all seem to have the same voice; although they are different, they are not written differently. The author sometimes jumps from one thought to another without transition and the inner monologues are rather matter-of-fact, very short or not there at all. I would have wished for more insight into the character's minds. This made the writing seem incoherent and a little bland to me and contributed to the fact that, even though I enjoyed the world, the story and the characters, I did not particularly enjoy the process of reading the book. This is not due to lack of talent or editing, but rather a creative choice, because the bird chapters are written very differently and show that Doubinsky can write and knows what he is doing. So I might of course be wrong here, but I think the distinction between the story-focused and the more instrospect writing is intentional, and it does fit the content of the respective chapters. It might just not be my cup of tea. I guess I will have to read more and find out. Because I am intrigued.
tldr; I am glad I read this book and will read more of Doubinsky's works. I struggled a lot trying to decide if I wanted to give "Paperclip" 3 or 4 stars, but ultimately landed on 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Meerkat Press for the eARC.
"Paperclip" is not the first novel in Doubinsky's alternate reality universe of competing city-states, but the first one I have read and for me, it totally worked as a standalone. I never had the feeling I was missing some vital information from a previous book. This seems to be the case with all his novels, so if this fictional universe sounds like something you might be interested in, I suggest you chose whichever book appeals most to you.
I found a lot to like about this book. The bird chapters were what I loved most, not just because I like birds, but because I found them to contain the best writing and some very interesting insight and inner monologue. The worldbuilding is interesting, fans of speculative ficiton will find some creative, yet believable ideas. The characters are layered, not simply good or bad. Everyone is good, but everyone's also an asshole in some capacity. Their motivations are clear and understandable. All in all, just what I like in my POV characters.
The story is driven by the characters and their actions, it has layers and touches on a lot of subjects. Things that do not seem connected in the beginning tie together in the end, motivations that are not clear at first glance become understandable later. There are some disctinct surreal elements that, in my opinion, go nicely with the more down-to-earth and plausible worldbuilding. Not everything is explained or even resolved. I like this in a story, but I am aware this is a matter of personal taste. The choice pays off and makes this story more intriguing.
What I did struggle with was the writing. The chapters were too short for my taste, so there was a lot of jumping around between the different POVs. The characters all seem to have the same voice; although they are different, they are not written differently. The author sometimes jumps from one thought to another without transition and the inner monologues are rather matter-of-fact, very short or not there at all. I would have wished for more insight into the character's minds. This made the writing seem incoherent and a little bland to me and contributed to the fact that, even though I enjoyed the world, the story and the characters, I did not particularly enjoy the process of reading the book. This is not due to lack of talent or editing, but rather a creative choice, because the bird chapters are written very differently and show that Doubinsky can write and knows what he is doing. So I might of course be wrong here, but I think the distinction between the story-focused and the more instrospect writing is intentional, and it does fit the content of the respective chapters. It might just not be my cup of tea. I guess I will have to read more and find out. Because I am intrigued.
tldr; I am glad I read this book and will read more of Doubinsky's works. I struggled a lot trying to decide if I wanted to give "Paperclip" 3 or 4 stars, but ultimately landed on 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Meerkat Press for the eARC.
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