Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson is in some ways the strangest book I’ve read this year.
The most surprising aspect of the book is the fact that there isQuicksilver by Neal Stephenson is in some ways the strangest book I’ve read this year.
The most surprising aspect of the book is the fact that there is no plot. I’ve read books that have started really slowly, and even books where the author largely ignores plot to focus on building the setting. This book, however, has no plot.
For all intents and purposes, Quicksilver is The 17th Century: The Novel. In many ways it feels like the literary equivalent of an open world video game. You just go around exploring with the characters, with no context or coherence whatsoever. Historical value is incredible. Certain individuals, like Isaac Newton, John Churchill and William of Orange, figure heavily. Tons of others make shorter appearances. As for location, the book takes you everywhere from the port of colonial Boston to the 1683 siege of Vienna.
And almost surprisingly, it’s charming. Almost a thousand pages of exploring a historical setting occasionally becomes an arduous task, but occasionally also becomes an exciting adventure filled with interesting details.
The book is divided into three parts. Considering the ridiculous size of the whole volume, you might define the three as books in themselves. I definitely had to take a break and read other things between each of them.
The first book focuses on Daniel Waterhouse, Puritan thinker and scientist and one-time member of the Royal Society. His part is split in two between a “present day” (1713) account of his leaving Massachusetts on a ship bound for England. This acts as a frame story for the second, which is a tale about his life and exploits with the Royal Society decades earlier. I strangely enjoyed the former more than the latter, even though it is moving so slowly that although the book starts out in Boston, the ship ends the part by sailing out of Massachusetts Bay.
The second book focuses on Jack Shaftoe, vagabond turned mercenary, and Eliza, slave in the harem of the Ottoman sultan. From their meeting during the siege of Vienna, the book follows them on a journey together through the various principalities and kingdoms of Europe, filled with strange details and interesting histories.
The third book pulls the first two together in something of a conclusion, leading up to the year 1688. The (historical) ending of the book was rather obvious if you are familiar with these times.
Overall, it’s a much more interesting book to read in than a book to read. While there is little sign of a story, and the fictional protagonists are not particularly outstanding, the setting is uniquely interesting and very well described. Despite being a work of historical fiction, the reader will inevitably learn a lot about 17th century history, in very enjoyable ways. ...more
This second short story collection is unfortunately the weakest part of the Witcher universe that I have read. It is not on the level of The Last WishThis second short story collection is unfortunately the weakest part of the Witcher universe that I have read. It is not on the level of The Last Wish, the stories feel mashed together without the same sense of purpose as in the other book, and they are less exciting, less symbolic and less epic.
However, I love experiencing the world of the Witcher and following Geralt of Rivia and Yennefer of Vengerberg on their adventures (even though Yennefer is dreadfully annoying in this book compared to other volumes). Sword of Destiny is also very much worth reading for a Witcher fan as it provides a proper introduction to Ciri, adding more context to the happenings of The Last Wish and the main saga.
Overall, this is a decent book, although it doesn’t quite fulfil its huge potential.
I’m having a hard time saying something about this book. I found Red Rising to be astoundingly overrated. When I read Golden Son I found it to be so gI’m having a hard time saying something about this book. I found Red Rising to be astoundingly overrated. When I read Golden Son I found it to be so good that I started questioning my thoughts on the first book. And now… now I start questioning my thoughts on the second.
Morning Star is not a bad book. It is not a disappointing book. But it never really shines, like the second book did. It tells the story about the end of the rebellion the only way it could go. I think Pierce Brown fulfilled the potential of the Red Rising storyline, but I am just in doubt as to how good the whole thing turned out in the end.
There were some good things: the Moon Lords, the story of Cassius, and the return of Uncle Narol.
There were a few atrocious developments: Mustang, my favourite character, has been destroyed completely in this book, and the ending puts the epilogue of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to shame in the contest of unnecessarily awful cheesiness.
Unfortunately, I think the mediocrity of the book also made me look at how it’s built up. It was like piercing an illusion, realising that the storyline is completely one-dimensional, the setting is profoundly lacking in depth, and there are actually really few consistently good characters.
On the other hand, Pierce Brown is still a master at creating suspense. Some of the most important action scenes were really well-written, some deeply moving, and at least one made me want to throw away the book in rage.
Overall, I would say what the book (and the series) lacks in actual quality, it makes up for in entertainment value....more
"Do you wonder where poetry come from? Where do we get the songs we sing and the tales we tell? Do you ever ask yourself how it is that some people"Do you wonder where poetry come from? Where do we get the songs we sing and the tales we tell? Do you ever ask yourself how it is that some people can dream great, wise, beautiful dreams and pass those dreams on as poetry to the world, to be sung and retold as long as the moon will wax and wane? Have you ever wondered why some people make beautiful songs and poems and tales, and some of us do not? It is a long story, and it does no credit to anyone: there is murder in it, and trickery, lies and foolishness, seduction and pursuit. Listen."
Like Gaiman, I envision these tales being told on long, seemingly everlasting summer nights, and on winter days where the only thing providing light in the darkness is the dancing green shroud of the aurora borealis. Reading his version of the Nordic myths in the family cabin during Yule, surrounded by mountains, fires and snow, was a spectacular experience.
As not only a born and bred Scandinavian, but also a historian of Medieval Scandinavia, I am obviously quite familiar with all the stories found among the pages of this little book. That did not mean, however, that I did not adore Gaiman's refreshing, modernised adaptation of them. This book can be read and enjoyed by anyone, from experts to the uniniated.
Being obsessed with ancient and Medieval literature often means that I find myself completely uninterested in 'modern' classics. But Gaiman's Norse Mythology merges the old and the new in a truly fascinating manner, and becomes something of a classic in the making, reconciling ancient stories with contemporary methods of writing.
Norse mythology is, essentially, the foundation that the modern fantasy genre rests upon. The way this book managed to combine two of my favourite aspects of literature in a single, magical work has turned it into my favourite Neil Gaiman book, as well as one of my favourite books that I've read in recent years....more
I am unfortunately forced to put this book on hold.
I'm not quite sure why. There was a point where I just lost interest entirely. It's not bad, far frI am unfortunately forced to put this book on hold.
I'm not quite sure why. There was a point where I just lost interest entirely. It's not bad, far from it. The opening chapters were very interesting, and made the promise of a fascinating postapocalyptic setting in the Moscow metro. However, I just lost the thread at some point. I started reading other books on the side, and eventually I was no longer interested in picking this one back up. I tried a few times, but could never find the desire to read more in it.
Modern so-called classics become fragile things when I read them.
A few select examples live up to their magnanimously hyped potential and overwhelm meModern so-called classics become fragile things when I read them.
A few select examples live up to their magnanimously hyped potential and overwhelm me (read: 1984 and Heart of Darkness).
The rest sink into the depths of oblivion. I read them because someone decided to give them the status of 'classic'. Which according to those people apparently means "did something first" (in this case wrote a book from the point of view of a disillusioned, whiny teenager), and certainly not "did something good enough for its quality and influence to last through the ages." I read them in order to check them off some mental list. And I forget them. And then I go on to read some real literature that's actually both entertaining and thought-provoking.
For do not for one moment think that a book is on a higher level than what you want to read, simply because someone put a 'classic' stamp on it. No, go ahead. Don't be as stupid and easily deceived as I am. Read what you want.
That being said, The Catcher in the Rye is not a downright bad book. Read it, too, if you want....more
Written as sort of a prequel to The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune will inevitably be compared to Isabel Allende's first and most famous boWritten as sort of a prequel to The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune will inevitably be compared to Isabel Allende's first and most famous book, and unfortunately, it doesn't even come close to reaching the bar set by its predecessor.
I was expecting another epic historical family saga, but instead this book is a romance (though at least with a decent twist at the end). I'll definitely read more books by Allende as I consider her to be an incredible author, but this was a disappointment....more
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