A review by talithamayisha
Strictly Analog, by Richard Levesque
4.0
I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Listening to the audio version of this book felt like a joyride with Google glasses on trough a foreign landscape of weird colours, smells and sound, mixed together in a mistery of a father who has to save his daughter from a murder charge. It was an intense ride that left me with a bit of a hangover (okay, that wasn't entirely because of the book). Once that subdued though, I was left with a pleasant sensation I experience whenever I finish a good novel.
The main character, Ted Lomax, is damaged and flawed, which makes him very attractive in a way. Besides his flaws, he really is a nice guy with a golden heart, which only adds to the charm. The world he lives in certainly has a dystopian feel to it, although I wouldn't classify it as such for the story doesn't focus on that so much. There is however some level of social critique to be found, which is portrayed in a very subtle way because of the lifestyles of most characters. This way, the reader can decide for himself how much to read between the lines, leaving it open for interpretation without you knowing the author's intentions. Ultimately, art is in the eye of the beholder, and I like it that way.
Steven Jay Cohen did a brilliant job narrating this one. He has a raw voice which is perfect for Ted and adds an extra dimension to his character. From the moment the story started I was drawn in, if only for the sound of his voice. Every intonation and pause was spot on. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you narrate a book.
Alongside the beautiful writing there's a touch of humour and sarcasm to be found. I couldn't detect any flaws in the story. If there were, I was so caught up in the flow of the narrative that I didn't notice. That's what a good book is about.
Strictly Analog may turn out to be the surprise of the year for me, because I honestly didn't expect to like it so much. I think it is deserving of more attention than it currently gets, and I can do no other than highly recommend this to all of my friends to read.
4.5 stars
Listening to the audio version of this book felt like a joyride with Google glasses on trough a foreign landscape of weird colours, smells and sound, mixed together in a mistery of a father who has to save his daughter from a murder charge. It was an intense ride that left me with a bit of a hangover (okay, that wasn't entirely because of the book). Once that subdued though, I was left with a pleasant sensation I experience whenever I finish a good novel.
The main character, Ted Lomax, is damaged and flawed, which makes him very attractive in a way. Besides his flaws, he really is a nice guy with a golden heart, which only adds to the charm. The world he lives in certainly has a dystopian feel to it, although I wouldn't classify it as such for the story doesn't focus on that so much. There is however some level of social critique to be found, which is portrayed in a very subtle way because of the lifestyles of most characters. This way, the reader can decide for himself how much to read between the lines, leaving it open for interpretation without you knowing the author's intentions. Ultimately, art is in the eye of the beholder, and I like it that way.
Steven Jay Cohen did a brilliant job narrating this one. He has a raw voice which is perfect for Ted and adds an extra dimension to his character. From the moment the story started I was drawn in, if only for the sound of his voice. Every intonation and pause was spot on. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you narrate a book.
Alongside the beautiful writing there's a touch of humour and sarcasm to be found. I couldn't detect any flaws in the story. If there were, I was so caught up in the flow of the narrative that I didn't notice. That's what a good book is about.
Strictly Analog may turn out to be the surprise of the year for me, because I honestly didn't expect to like it so much. I think it is deserving of more attention than it currently gets, and I can do no other than highly recommend this to all of my friends to read.