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You need to move less before the camera. Also use your facial muscles less. I stopped listening and watched only your face.

Currently in volume 2, chapter 30, 40% done and yup, hitting the part where I’m bored to tears. Stopping at this point and seriously considering jumping to volume 3 so I can finish it before it’s due back to the library. Am listening to a few YT reviews and came across yours. I loved Piranesi, read the book then listened on audio (btw, Ejifor Chewitel-sp? Does a wonderful reading) a few months later and still enjoyed the storytelling and, yes, the writing is amazing. This one JS&MN has some great moments but it’s just tooooooooo loooooong and loses my interest.

Overall I liked it, it was very interesting. there were a few times I found it riveting, and felt like a fly on the wall and mind (demons) of drug addicts, which was truly humbling. But at other times I thought it was predictable, and had some comical overeaches and some unreal chain of events most I can't remember but for instance when Aunt June, years later, finally told him the story of his dad and mom he didn't even know they had been friends which I just would find that very hard to believe but he wouldn't have been asking more people these questions before. Also the part where they left those little children in the crack house, with no immediate call to the police and no follow-up, make me wonder was she in a hurry to write this at a certain points and not others. Good book interesting story but I don't think it's like prize-winning fiction.

That’s a cool cover for Kafka on the shore

I came in search of reviews of this as I'm about 25% through and already think it's brilliant but like you haven't really heard much about it. And I agree about the tell don't show thing, which I usually hate and makes me feel distanced from a novel, but it just seems to work here

There's an entire side story that was just completely dropped too; there was this big focus early on with the terraformers all doing their own thing after they realize they're essentially the last humans with high technology in the universe, and one of those scientists has started making genetically engineered humans that can better survive on the planet they're researching, going so far as pondering the ethics of it all and how to raise the children etc.etc., and then that story is just completely ignored and forgotten. It ultimately had nothing to do with the narrative and simply wastes the reader's time. Aside from that I am probably more forgiving with the overall story. I liked Kern's continuing journey, I liked the octopus characterization, I liked the cosmic horror slime mold, and I liked the continued story of the spiders and humans learning to work together and communicate. But yeah, it meanders a bit too much on stuff that doesn't service the overall plot, and if it had to meander at all, I'd rather it been focused on spider/human relations.

How do you get copies of books to review?

I trust that a book this complex would not be good on audiobook? It was brought to my attention by Audible. Maybe I should start off with Satanic Verses. I love historical fiction and I've always wanted to read something by this author, but very complex books sometimes don't work that well in audiobook form.

I loved this book and I really didn’t pay much attention to the twist… My twist was deciding - How did it end?? It could go two ways although after thinking about it and rereading parts I think I might have decided. I did think it meandered a bit. I totally understand why some readers would not like it. It’s not a book for everyone.

In the middle of book 2 right now. Prolonging it. Listening to a little bit everyday as if it were my daily doze of sanity (or insanity). Loving these reviews, and that you’re enjoying the series too!

New subscriber here. I love your reviews and the pace of the video

I wanted to comment on your disappointment with the change in the book and I wanted to say that I believe she changed the style of her writing to match the characters' evolutions... Like her writing evolves with the story.

I am Chilean, and I am interested in reading this book because a recent situation in the Chilean government involved an accusation of rape between one of our authorities and a subordinate. So, let's give this book a shot.

Possibly an annoying, and common request, but would you consider doing a 'My Favourite books' video, or a maybe favourite books you've reviewed on youtube video?

It is not released until January!!! This review makes me want to pick it up now, how can I wait for 2 months?

Just finished. So. Good.

Would I miss any interesting syntactical choices if I listened to this on audio?

One of my favourite books of the century so far. Superb characters superbly written. I've not read anything else by BC but I intend to.

I really loved it, loved the shorter sections in the second person. But I am still struggling with the ending.

All I can say is Just RAFO. Byaz is FAR more interesting than Gandalf. For so many reasons.

I didn't feel like the book was especially 2 dimensional with the characters. It may not have delved into each of them completely, but the book mostly takes place over a three day period. For characters to be revealed organically, it has to emerge from the situations they are put in, and how they interact with each other. I wouldn't expect to learn everything i need to know about someone over a three day period, especially with such extreme circumstances.

Interesting, I enjoyed seeing a review of this from someone who is but also isn't part of the target audience. I won't read this again (too many books in the world), but I think I'd get more out of it if I did. Reading it in my 20s back when it came out, I just found that gap between our lives too jarring and had too much of that feeling that the author and her friends live in the same part of the world yet in a completely different universe. I read and enjoy memoirs by people who are very different to me all the time, so perhaps the problem here is that this book did cast me as a millennial British woman as part of the target audience but I wasn't feeling it. I think part of that is privilege but also just life experience - I've got more of it now so I'd probably appreciate her reflections on relationships and grief more, even if I was also occasionally rolling my eyes.

The book suffered for me from a lack of tension. I also thought that there would be more tension between liberal arts and conservatism but it didn't eventuate. My conclusion was that the world didn't need another story about a British public schoolboy.

Loved your comment on understanding your privilege!

Read this ages ago and mostly enjoyed it. Dolly is 5 years younger than me so it wasn’t quite my experience of my 20s but close enough for me to still appreciate the experience she was conveying. I enjoyed the tv adaptation that came out more recently.

HE CRACKED THE ARC CODE!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Ahhh I've been so curious about this one! Something about it has been calling to me, and after this review I think I need to pick it up!

eloquent as always, you put together ideas i couldn't quite unpack, and a major feat that is with the subject matter at hand. so glad you enjoyed it!!!

I did read this recently and you did a much better job of the review. I rated this Ike 4 🌟’s due to the very issues you brought up as why some may not get along with it. The graphic nature of that porn scene and if felt meta at times. However, I also agree with your positives. This book will make you feel all of the feels and my favorite story was The Main Character. I know it deserves a re read from me, because I am sure I missed some things. I also looked up anachronisms many times, QFOC (queer friend of color, who knew?) Which, by the way, the QFOC is connected in The Feminist Chapter and The Main Character, if I remember correctly. In short, I won’t be forgetting this book for a while and it is deserving of your praise and 5 star rating.

If you and Nathan both recommend it, I have to give it a go despite my Victorian sensibilities 😂

Just saw who won the prize and came to see your thoughts 😂

ooh, you’ve got me interested! i have such a hard time with short stories, however…

I’ve been intrigued by this for awhile & periodically almost purchase it, but now I’m SOLD. 📖🪱💚

Great, well-rounded review! I listened to this on audio. and I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ‘read’ this year.

This sounds great. Thanks for the review.

A book that criticizes the toxicity of feminist allies? Count me in!

You’ve piqued my interest, I just ordered a copy. Looking forward to reading it!

I am so keen to read this book. It just sound like the best kinds of nasty. Funny, biting, cringey and a little extreme. Yep. Not this week, but soon.

Linked stories. Funny. Squirmy. Sharp. Sold!

I totally agree with his every word.❤

TOO-lah-tim-OO-tee, according to the author's website. You were very close!

I read it in Spanish. Even though im fluent in Spanish, I had trouble keeping up with who I was reading about and where they belong on the family tree. Like, which Aureliano are we talking about now? Whose's whose cousin/child are they? Especially when the author takes us back in time.

I loved the book from the start and I read the series in order thus far. I’m excited to start the final book in the series. Streets of Laredo

I feel like I’m missing something from not having read James yet. But I haven’t read Finn… I’m not sure how essential it is to read it first before James.

Stone Yard a dark horse I reckon...

I guess you will enjoy book 5 even more then, 3 and 4 are the weakest in the series, i read them in the order they came out, when they did. 2,,5,1, 6, 3,4 is my ranking.

I have a habit of blind-buying novels, just bought this one and I'm already kinda regretting it 😄 Ah well, at least it sounds like a relatively easy read... 🥲

Man are you going to hate CoM, but maybe not. It is basically all fantasy. I finished CoM and said "I didn't like that", but then I kept thinking about it over and over again. CoT is my favorite, but CoR was still great. The "bad guy" in CoR was just terrifying. Unfortunately, it had the same "andromeda strain" like rushed resolution. Still, they all expand the Universe. The end of CoR was the basis of the entire 3rd book.

He would find Pynchon a nightmare. LOL.

I'm an Aussie who's getting this one for my partner for Christmas. Thanks for the review.