MarineScallop of Bliss

[ismo]

A server crash for my normal home page coincided with a mood crash to keep me off the internet. Pinned down by lethargy, my brain managed to produce one good idea: I caved and spent the whole day on the couch reading. I watched Earth: Human Planet on the BBC channel and learned interesting facts about people who live in the mountains, while finishing off Too Like the Lightning, which btw has over 400 pages. I'm not going to review it, because spoilers. It took a couple of chapters for me to figure out where it was going, which is longer than usual for me. I was intrigued because it was less predictable than most novels I read, which made it more interesting. However, I am pleased (?) to report that I figured out all the secrets way before I think the author intended me to. Some of them were obvious. I was NOT pleased that one of the main characters is a serial killer. Torture-murder mass killer. What? AGAIN?! Trust me, this doesn't pique my interest in said character. Bored/irritated/want my grenade launcher/don't care what this says about me philosophically. I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask about the world building, but the book held the attention of a writer in the throes of a massive depression/PTSD crash, so I would say that it will probably hold your interest too, dear readers. Can't say fairer than that! In fact--because it ends in a serious cliff-hanger even after 400 pp.--I went out and bought the sequel, Seven Surrenders. This is not my first rodeo, so I immediately turned to the end of the book to see if THIS was the conclusion. No, it is not! There is yet another massive installment to come. . . . Like I don't have enough big fat books in the house yet.

Comments

[oracne]

Well, now you have another massive book suited for a Couch Day. That is not a bad thing at all.

Palmer, BTW, is another alumna of the same Mothership from whence I came. I have not yet read her book, though.

[ismo]

Well, she's very smart and learned, so I guess that's just how you all emerge from the Mothership. I think you would enjoy the book, but it is quite an undertaking! Hopefully you can get a good Couch Day without undergoing any deleterious effects first.

mass murderer: nope

[siriosa]

i noped right out a chapter or so after that reveal. i. don't. care. i'm sure it's brilliant; i'm not giving braincells over for the care and feeding of such as that.

Re: mass murderer: nope

[ismo]

Yes, I hear you. I have a lot of thoughts about this one. It's very disturbing. Particularly since the author sees this book as a serious contribution to the ongoing conversation about history and philosophy. That was why I was so troubled to find that murder was presented as an act of freedom. Come on--I read L'Etranger and I thought Camus was full of it back then. I guess that's why I'm continuing to read the sequel. I want to see if there's any redeeming turn of the narrative. I have to say it's not looking good so far.