Reviews

Odalisque by Neal Stephenson

just_justin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny informative slow-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

maitrey_d's review against another edition

4.0

The final third of Quicksilver is every bit as good as the first two parts. It takes ahead the plotlines concerning Eliza, moving between Versailles, London and The Hague culminating in a long winded letter to Leibniz. Daniel's story is still a cliffhanger.

See my review in [b:Quicksilver|823|Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, #1)|Neal Stephenson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293342164s/823.jpg|1610031] for a more detailed review.

saraishelafs's review against another edition

3.0

The story continues with the perils of Eliza. The English monarchy is shaky. Who is William of Orange?

ljcostel's review against another edition

4.0

Audio book. Book 3 of the Baroque Cycle. Liked it more than the second one because focus back to Daniel & the natural philosophers, with Eliza now in that world. Continue listening at some point. Not excited enough to do now

sharondblk's review against another edition

4.0

It's really good, although sometimes it goes on and on. This one features Eliza (and because we listened to the audio book they had a woman reading her letters, which was a really good choice) and Daniel. Half-cocked jack is off doing other things and I'm looking forward to reading the next book to catch up with him too.

oracle_of_madness's review against another edition

5.0

This is the final book in Volume 1 of The Baroque Cycle and I am very pleased to say that Stephenson wraps things up very nicely while still leaving me wondering what happens further on.
This book contains both the evolving stories of Daniel Waterhouse and Eliza during the tumultuous 1680's. Charles II has died and there is a new king of England, however, of course, things are not that simple. A new word is born, Revolution, or at least, given new meaning. Not only a "revolving around" but now a Revolution as we commonly know the word today, as an "uprising". And Daniel and Eliza, although both in completely different parts of Europe, are quite in the middle of everything.
Neal Stephenson writes so clearly about these sophisticated political situations and, also, the ideas of Natural Philosophy at the time, that I have no problem understanding and following along. One thing I would like to mention that this first Volume has taught me, and that is that humanity in the late 17th century could be just as polite, nice, charming, vicious and vile as it is today.
There is so much quality to match the quantity of this massive Volume, so if the sheer size of the books of The Baroque Cycle scare you, I can assure you it is more than worth your time.

kateofmind's review against another edition

5.0

The voice actress portraying Eliza in her epistolary sections nailed it. THAT is Eliza, not some faux sultry kitten.

manuti's review against another edition

4.0

Y ya van 3 comentados. 

Después de comentar brevemente las 2 primeras partes [1 y 2], esta tercera es más de lo mismo, o sea, que si te gustaron las 2 anteriores esta no te defraudará. Esta novela se centra en el personaje de la odalisca, Eliza (una joven de la isla Qwghlm [isla que ya aparecía o aparecerá en Criptonomicón]) que aprovechándose de lo aprendido en el harén del sultán turco para adelantándose a su tiempo y aprovechando la libertad protestante de los Países Bajos y los enfrentamientos entre Francia, Inglaterra y Alemania, y a su vez entre católicos y protestantes. Todo ello aderezado con la época en que la ciencia se convirtió en lo que es hoy en día dejando de lado la brujería y la alquimia.

En general cada libro está bastante bien, pero el conjunto de los tres que forman el ciclo barroco 1 son totalmente recomendables.
Reseña en BEM on Line
Reseña en Stardust

sansserifsigma's review against another edition

4.0

REREAD:

If you ever want to read a book where all the plot points happen off screen, this is your book.

sanserifsigma's review against another edition

4.0

REREAD:

If you ever want to read a book where all the plot points happen off screen, this is your book.