Active Users:609 Time:24/03/2026 11:44:04 AM
This is one of the books you really should not judge until you've finished it *NM* Camilla Send a noteboard - 11/05/2010 04:15:23 PM
I've tried it several times, never managing to penetrate more than about 100 pages. There's some nice ideas, but the insane absurdist humour comes across as the author trying way too hard to be Rankin and failing miserably, the chaotic weirdness comes across as the author trying way too hard to be Mieville and failing miserably, and the unreliable narrator comes across as the author trying way too hard to be Wolfe and failing miserably.

Between the derivativeness, there are flashes of talent, but the book apes too many other voices and styles to establish its own identity. In addition, the plot goes off on frequent tangents which are so insanely long that it's hard to remember what's going on in the main storyline when the plot returns to it for a few pages before shooting off on some other lengthy flashback.

Overall, highly disappointing. Since I don't review books I don't finish (the book may very well have turned into the greatest piece of literature the world has ever seen on p. 101), I never wrote a review of it. But the first 100 pages are pretty bad.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
Reply to message
The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway - 10/05/2010 06:01:50 PM 17414 Views
I have no idea what you just wrote : ) *NM* - 10/05/2010 07:01:53 PM 1117 Views
Re: Shall I rewrite it? *NM* - 10/05/2010 07:02:37 PM 1099 Views
It works perfect for the book then. - 10/05/2010 08:29:57 PM 2038 Views
Which Gaiman and Pratchett? *SPOILERS* - 10/05/2010 09:51:01 PM 2002 Views
Re: *SPOILERS* MAJORLY. - 10/05/2010 09:57:01 PM 1959 Views
Re: *SPOILERS* MAJORLY. - 10/05/2010 09:59:57 PM 2068 Views
Nice review! I'll read it at some point, in time for the book club if not earlier... - 10/05/2010 09:55:22 PM 1922 Views
Re: I'm resigned to being the only person who didn't like it. - 10/05/2010 09:58:10 PM 1982 Views
It did not remind me of Buffy. - 10/05/2010 10:00:41 PM 1919 Views
Re: SPOILERS for season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. - 10/05/2010 10:18:45 PM 1960 Views
Re: SPOILERS for season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. - 10/05/2010 10:26:13 PM 1969 Views
Re: Ooooh yes. - 10/05/2010 10:32:13 PM 2043 Views
Re: Ooooh yes. - 11/05/2010 12:11:53 AM 1936 Views
I don't like it so far. About 150-200 pages in. Not impressed. - 10/05/2010 10:02:21 PM 1949 Views
I don't recall it getting any better later - 10/05/2010 10:15:55 PM 1929 Views
Why are you not impressed? *NM* - 10/05/2010 10:16:29 PM 981 Views
Re: SPOILERS - 10/05/2010 10:22:52 PM 1961 Views
Re: SPOILERS - 10/05/2010 10:28:06 PM 1914 Views
Re: That last mentioned is awesome. - 10/05/2010 10:33:29 PM 2044 Views
Re: That last mentioned is awesome. - 11/05/2010 12:12:21 AM 1930 Views
Seems like he's trying too hard. - 10/05/2010 10:39:34 PM 2015 Views
Re: It does end better than it begins and goes on. - 10/05/2010 10:23:30 PM 1939 Views
This is a weak novel. - 11/05/2010 03:50:01 PM 1903 Views
This is one of the books you really should not judge until you've finished it *NM* - 11/05/2010 04:15:23 PM 995 Views
That's why I didn't. - 11/05/2010 07:59:54 PM 1941 Views
But that raises another question - 11/05/2010 08:03:45 PM 1914 Views
Re: It's definitely not fabulous. - 11/05/2010 06:47:01 PM 1991 Views
I understand your complaints - 12/05/2010 11:45:10 PM 1959 Views

Reply to Message