This book reads like a Monty Python screenplay; swinging wildly from sesquipedalian old-English into, oddly modern language.
I really had to make an efThis book reads like a Monty Python screenplay; swinging wildly from sesquipedalian old-English into, oddly modern language.
I really had to make an effort to stay committed in my reading as it was a little dry in places. When I first started I was put off by the tone and language, but was pulled into the story the more I read and was able to adjust to the style. I'm glad I stuck with it.
There were quite a few genuinely funny moments that made me have to stifle laughter reading at night and I learned quite a bit about Tudor England and the politics around the line of succession. Very cutthroat! The fate of the Duke of Clarence was the first instance -of many- where I had to look up something in this book to see if that actually happened. (Not concretely proven in the Duke's case, but honestly I'd believe it)
I like our main character Lambert. He adjusted quickly to his ever changing life and was generally good natured and level headed for being so young throughout the story. I'm happy his story didn't end in too much tragedy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the Advanced Copy....more
**spoiler alert** Please don't assume my rating is me being generous due to this being a review copy. The Expert of Subtle Revisions is an absolute 5 **spoiler alert** Please don't assume my rating is me being generous due to this being a review copy. The Expert of Subtle Revisions is an absolute 5 star read!
The story is inventive and complex but not convoluted. The plot pieces fell right into place as the story progressed, it was a great thing to experience. I was very impressed with how well researched the story was while I was reading it initially, and have even more respect for the author after seeing the amount of sources in the acknowledgments.
The characters are nuanced and individual. I love Anton as a character. He was as honest as he could reasonably be with Hase. He told her early on that she was named by her real father and mother. I kept this in the back of my mind when Sofia was introduced and it stopped my suspicions about anything developing between her and Anton. Also, the chemistry between Anton and Haskell was immediate, their romance adds a layer to the story that sets it apart.
I was thrilled for a few pages when I thought Josef had died but he was an irritant till the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy....more
**spoiler alert** A bit slow to start but good writing. Fungus is the main focus of this book and the smells were so well described I felt I could oft**spoiler alert** A bit slow to start but good writing. Fungus is the main focus of this book and the smells were so well described I felt I could often imagine the scents. ...more
As the synopsis says this is a novel about a very intelligent boy who struggles to find his place in the world during his childhood/boyhood. A “squareAs the synopsis says this is a novel about a very intelligent boy who struggles to find his place in the world during his childhood/boyhood. A “square peg in a round hole”situation except the square peg thinks the other shape should change so he can fit. I can’t bring myself to hate Daniel’s character because he’s very tortured by his nature; he feels a lot of shame for the way he acts and thinks but it’s his nature to act and think that way. The adults in his life are often cruel and his peers are either indifferent or spurn him. Phillip is his only “friend� but that’s out of pity and his beloved teacher is a weirdo. Not to mention is family situation. Not really a surprise he’s not well adjusted� I didn’t get much out of this book but I think it’ll enlighten someone who can relate to Daniel. Many thanks to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for the Advanced Review Copy....more
A shy girl with obsessive tendencies trying to seek help for these tendencies, ends up fixated on her therapist. Sylvie on paper is fairly well adjustA shy girl with obsessive tendencies trying to seek help for these tendencies, ends up fixated on her therapist. Sylvie on paper is fairly well adjusted, she has an apartment she maintains, a job she does well at (even if she is a bit emotionally absent while there) and she has a special needs dog she takes great care of. Her current obsession happens to be her therapist but she has a history of projecting onto her relationships and wants to change. I was a bit bored reading this at times; personally I found the excerpts from her job at the veterinary office to be the most interesting parts of the book. Give it a shot if you liked Big Swiss by Jen Beagin....more
This book had so many real life references it felt like biographical fiction. The themes were a bit repetitive and I felt that often the writing wouldThis book had so many real life references it felt like biographical fiction. The themes were a bit repetitive and I felt that often the writing would insist upon itself to make its point. e.g. � Decisions were made: I made them. Violence was done: I did it. Crime scenes were fled: I fled them. People were hurt: I hurt them. Someone was loved: I loved them. Not everything I did was bad. Just most of it.� Pg. 10
I think that should have been trimmed down a bit... Also, this sentence structure was repeated at a few other points in the book and I wouldn’t call it poor writing exactly but it was a bit cringey.
Overall this was a great debut. The plot is compelling and often times the twists were intriguing.
I’m looking forward to the author developing their writing as their career progresses. I’d recommend this one to adults 25-40 years old.
My thanks to NetGalley and William Marrow for the digital ARC....more
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