View original postI think I agree with you that there's maybe too much description. Camorr is a pretty interesting place, and terrifically atmospheric, but Lynch lays the descriptive passages on pretty thick, especially for a story that's only staying in this location for one book. You get the sense that he put a lot of effort into imagining every detail of Camorr, and he wants to employ as much of it as he can in the story. It's written well enough, so it's no chore to get through, but it is fairly dense at times. I don't remember if this is something that smooths out later in the book or not, but it might. Overall I think these first few chapters are the most problematic.

View original postAnother thing I've been finding in this re-read is that part of the novel's breathless charm wears off when you read it a second time. The first time through, not knowing what was coming, there was a tense sort of urgency to everything, both setup and execution, that really glued me to the pages. The second time through, knowing the major plot point already, I find myself focused more on the writing. It's good, but it's not as good as the plot. I think this is a book that shines best when you're reading it for the first time, unspoiled.