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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
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The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway - 10/05/2010 06:01:50 PM 17147 Views
I have no idea what you just wrote : ) *NM* - 10/05/2010 07:01:53 PM 1097 Views
Re: Shall I rewrite it? *NM* - 10/05/2010 07:02:37 PM 1074 Views
It works perfect for the book then. - 10/05/2010 08:29:57 PM 1986 Views
Which Gaiman and Pratchett? *SPOILERS* - 10/05/2010 09:51:01 PM 1948 Views
Re: *SPOILERS* MAJORLY. - 10/05/2010 09:57:01 PM 1909 Views
Re: *SPOILERS* MAJORLY. - 10/05/2010 09:59:57 PM 2020 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 1865 Views
Re: I'm resigned to being the only person who didn't like it. - 10/05/2010 09:58:10 PM 1931 Views
It did not remind me of Buffy. - 10/05/2010 10:00:41 PM 1870 Views
Re: SPOILERS for season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. - 10/05/2010 10:18:45 PM 1905 Views
Re: SPOILERS for season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. - 10/05/2010 10:26:13 PM 1909 Views
Re: Ooooh yes. - 10/05/2010 10:32:13 PM 1987 Views
Re: Ooooh yes. - 11/05/2010 12:11:53 AM 1863 Views
I don't like it so far. About 150-200 pages in. Not impressed. - 10/05/2010 10:02:21 PM 1899 Views
I don't recall it getting any better later - 10/05/2010 10:15:55 PM 1874 Views
Why are you not impressed? *NM* - 10/05/2010 10:16:29 PM 947 Views
Re: SPOILERS - 10/05/2010 10:22:52 PM 1896 Views
Re: SPOILERS - 10/05/2010 10:28:06 PM 1858 Views
Re: That last mentioned is awesome. - 10/05/2010 10:33:29 PM 1980 Views
Re: That last mentioned is awesome. - 11/05/2010 12:12:21 AM 1870 Views
Seems like he's trying too hard. - 10/05/2010 10:39:34 PM 1960 Views
Re: It does end better than it begins and goes on. - 10/05/2010 10:23:30 PM 1898 Views
This is a weak novel. - 11/05/2010 03:50:01 PM 1832 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 974 Views
That's why I didn't. - 11/05/2010 07:59:54 PM 1881 Views
But that raises another question - 11/05/2010 08:03:45 PM 1848 Views
Re: It's definitely not fabulous. - 11/05/2010 06:47:01 PM 1917 Views
I understand your complaints - 12/05/2010 11:45:10 PM 1913 Views

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