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A review by daniel_b_martin
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
3.0
Once again Erin Morgenstern gives the world a unique and highly imaginative novel. I am not sure that anything like this has been done before; which is what I admire most about Erin's writing style. She goes beyond the traditional means of storytelling and creates something new, realistic with hints of magic dust sprinkled on every page.
Though many parts of this book were confusing there were also many moments of wonder, surprise, mystery, suspense and interesting coinciding story lines (that most often worked). It did pain me, (hence 4 instead of 5 stars) that upon finishing it I felt as though some things were lacking. Some of the plot jumps were awkward though I know that she did them intentionally, some aspects of the book felt rushed and the parts of me that wants to somehow grade her would expect more from my metaphorical student given that I know what wonders she is truly capable of. I don't want to say what too explicitly but things to do with Kat's notebook and Zachary's mom I would have liked to have seen attended to one more time at the end.
Though I do find the ultra modern romance nuances and the magical realms within realms, doors behind doors, puppet master with conscious puppet aspects of this book to be interesting. Some of the symbolism worked well in concert with the other symbols, but I felt that perhaps this book was not so much a book to tell us about life but a book to tell us about imagination. I think that Erin personally doesn't think that things NEED to make sense, that they simply need to be experienced in a fictional context. I would not recommend this book as highly as Night Circus, which was truly masterfully orchestrated, but I still think that this is a good book for true book lovers because of the odes to literature that are scattered throughout its pages. That is something I think true book and story lovers will appreciate no matter how confusing and thick and shifting beneath your feet the storyline seems at times.
Looking forward to her next book, if there is one, and I hope there is!
Though many parts of this book were confusing there were also many moments of wonder, surprise, mystery, suspense and interesting coinciding story lines (that most often worked). It did pain me, (hence 4 instead of 5 stars) that upon finishing it I felt as though some things were lacking. Some of the plot jumps were awkward though I know that she did them intentionally, some aspects of the book felt rushed and the parts of me that wants to somehow grade her would expect more from my metaphorical student given that I know what wonders she is truly capable of. I don't want to say what too explicitly but things to do with Kat's notebook and Zachary's mom I would have liked to have seen attended to one more time at the end.
Though I do find the ultra modern romance nuances and the magical realms within realms, doors behind doors, puppet master with conscious puppet aspects of this book to be interesting. Some of the symbolism worked well in concert with the other symbols, but I felt that perhaps this book was not so much a book to tell us about life but a book to tell us about imagination. I think that Erin personally doesn't think that things NEED to make sense, that they simply need to be experienced in a fictional context. I would not recommend this book as highly as Night Circus, which was truly masterfully orchestrated, but I still think that this is a good book for true book lovers because of the odes to literature that are scattered throughout its pages. That is something I think true book and story lovers will appreciate no matter how confusing and thick and shifting beneath your feet the storyline seems at times.
Looking forward to her next book, if there is one, and I hope there is!