alexhaydon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really wanted to love this. It seems to be a novel that has inspired a few writers and for the life of me I can’t really see why… there are some concepts and theory that are possibly being asked questions of in this novel but not too evidently.
The first third of the book was brilliantly weird and engaging. William’s character was what carried me through this book, insane and yet completely sane. But even his storyline becomes all too repetitive. There is no sense of adventure or driving force in the novel past the half way mark for me. It felt like we had been waiting in anticipation for an event that wasn’t coming and sadly I became more aware of it the further I read. When something eventually happens toward the end, I felt underwhelmed.
I’d read that the novel was Steampunk but it sadly didn’t feel or read like others that have been more successful in that genre..besides some character names there wasn’t much to indicate it’s Steampunkness?
Lastly, the female characters…only 2 if you can even call them characters. I’d have rathered them not be there at all than the pitiful and either hysterical or angry *glimpses* we get into their personalities. A novel that is seriously not old enough to warrant this in my opinion.
Maybe it was the wrong Blaylock novel to choose first? Very sad this book wasn’t as successful for me as I’d hoped.
The first third of the book was brilliantly weird and engaging. William’s character was what carried me through this book, insane and yet completely sane. But even his storyline becomes all too repetitive. There is no sense of adventure or driving force in the novel past the half way mark for me. It felt like we had been waiting in anticipation for an event that wasn’t coming and sadly I became more aware of it the further I read. When something eventually happens toward the end, I felt underwhelmed.
I’d read that the novel was Steampunk but it sadly didn’t feel or read like others that have been more successful in that genre..besides some character names there wasn’t much to indicate it’s Steampunkness?
Lastly, the female characters…only 2 if you can even call them characters. I’d have rathered them not be there at all than the pitiful and either hysterical or angry *glimpses* we get into their personalities. A novel that is seriously not old enough to warrant this in my opinion.
Maybe it was the wrong Blaylock novel to choose first? Very sad this book wasn’t as successful for me as I’d hoped.
kat_smith24's review against another edition
4.0
Definite Bradbury flavor, with a touch of Lovecraft.
lady_mel's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of the most convoluted books I've ever read, but I absolutely love James Blaylock's prose. He can make the back of an aspirin bottle sound interesting.
Basically, the story is about Giles Peach, a boy who, incidentally, was born with gills and semi-webbed fingers. He has a way with machines, and has come up with something he calls The Digging Leviathan, a device to reach the center of the world.
There are mermen popping up everywhere, and Giles' best friend,Jim, has a father who is locked up in an insane asylum, and escapes regularly.
I liked the book itself, but the reason I gave it three stars was due to typos all the way through it.
Basically, the story is about Giles Peach, a boy who, incidentally, was born with gills and semi-webbed fingers. He has a way with machines, and has come up with something he calls The Digging Leviathan, a device to reach the center of the world.
There are mermen popping up everywhere, and Giles' best friend,Jim, has a father who is locked up in an insane asylum, and escapes regularly.
I liked the book itself, but the reason I gave it three stars was due to typos all the way through it.
More...