Oh my Gods, this book, this book. Beautiful, dreamlike, melancholy and utterly compelling. The setting is so powerful you can live and feel it, the leOh my Gods, this book, this book. Beautiful, dreamlike, melancholy and utterly compelling. The setting is so powerful you can live and feel it, the lead character so gentle, sincere and innocent that yoi find yourself both loving and wanting to defend him. And the narrative backstory unfolds so flawlessly that it carries you like the tides. May be one of my favourite books ever....more
What an absolutely extraordinary book, following Charlie’s ‘reports’ as he goes from an IQ of 70 to a genius who surpasses his masters, then tumbles bWhat an absolutely extraordinary book, following Charlie’s ‘reports’ as he goes from an IQ of 70 to a genius who surpasses his masters, then tumbles back down the other side.
Like Algernon the mouse, he navigates a maze, only for Charlie it’s one of self-awareness, the loss of his innocence, the understanding of society and friendship and sex and relationships, the re-finding of his family and how it all fits together. There’s a strong association of intellect with arrogance, moments of almost god-like clarity… and yet, when he finally returns to his almost blissful ignorance, it might even be a relief.
As a brain-fog sufferer myself, watching him falter was a real moment of empathy, but the loveliest thing was his connection with Algernon, and the thing that he never forgot
Merged review:
What an absolutely extraordinary book, following Charlie’s ‘reports’ as he goes from an IQ of 70 to a genius who surpasses his masters, then tumbles back down the other side.
Like Algernon the mouse, he navigates a maze, only for Charlie it’s one of self-awareness, the loss of his innocence, the understanding of society and friendship and sex and relationships, the re-finding of his family and how it all fits together. There’s a strong association of intellect with arrogance, moments of almost god-like clarity… and yet, when he finally returns to his almost blissful ignorance, it might even be a relief.
As a brain-fog sufferer myself, watching him falter was a real moment of empathy, but the loveliest thing was his connection with Algernon, and the thing that he never forgot...more
One of those books that you absolutely can’t stop reading but you never want to end - sharing the wonder and awakening of our lead character as he groOne of those books that you absolutely can’t stop reading but you never want to end - sharing the wonder and awakening of our lead character as he grows from an almost 1984-esque grey and tightly controlled reality to discovering magic and colour and love and family. A message about inclusion, how not to judge others and how to think outside the little box labelled ‘normal’. Beautiful, enchanting, my favourite read of the year....more
I’ve loved mythological tales - the Vikings and the Greeks particularly - since I was a child, and this was a beautiful way to revisit those childhoodI’ve loved mythological tales - the Vikings and the Greeks particularly - since I was a child, and this was a beautiful way to revisit those childhood loves, but told like a mead hall saga. Rhythmic and enchanting, wonderfully compelling, and bringing new life to well-known legends....more
Absolutely beautiful book - best read of the year. Manages to be very precise, very human, very insightful, and very gentle - actually managed to reduAbsolutely beautiful book - best read of the year. Manages to be very precise, very human, very insightful, and very gentle - actually managed to reduce me to tears on the train yesterday. A book about the magic of little things, how tiny moments and touches can spin into something so important,, how the smallest of objects becomes precious. A book about how things interconnect, how a word can carry across miles and generations, something as simple as the name of a dog. And a book about youth and age and memories, how moments become so important when they're gone for ever.
Loved the concept - very good to see a 'post apocalypse' story that doesn't resort to violence - where the idea of taking a life is something appalling and to be respected. And loved seeing the magic of music and theatre in such a wonderfully stark setting.
UPDATE ON SECOND READING: Takes on a whole new cadence reading it after a genuine pandemic, and facing the end of the world…...more
As perfectly put together as a bed with crisp, hospital corners, The Gone-Away World deals with colossal concepts in wonderfullFucking (pooting) hell.
As perfectly put together as a bed with crisp, hospital corners, The Gone-Away World deals with colossal concepts in wonderfully human terms. It's an easy read, with a matter-of-fact of fact tone of voice and a slightly dry sense of humour. It almost seems to shrug its shoulders at you all the way through - as if asking you why its so remarkable.
Several times, I forgot to actually get off my train as the tale carried me forwards. It's dense with information, obsessively relevant detail and and fascinating, informative asides - but somehow manages to remain as understated as its lead character.
I won't post spoilers - but I had the book's turning point twigged from very early on, and was slightly baffled as to the why the character had not been able to draw the conclusion for himself, either before or immediately afterwards. Normally, this drives me insane (I get very impatient), but just this once, it seems, the character's own denial was so touchingly real that it made me wonder if we all have one like him.
A dystopian future. A social reject hero. A gloweringly evil corporate villain. A gloriously awkward teenage romance. A plot that's as bOh dear Gods.
A dystopian future. A social reject hero. A gloweringly evil corporate villain. A gloriously awkward teenage romance. A plot that's as beautifully simple, and as flawlessly put together, as a gaming program. A trip through every level of Eighties nostalgia, from computer consoles to mecha to prog rock to D&D modules. But also, a message of politics and reason and reality, and a reminder not to judge anything by its appearance.
And, speaking as the gamer girl that always played the male characters, moments of a very personal empathy that made me grin like a loon.
Level up. Achievement unlocked. If you have any love for your own nerdy history, read this book....more
This isn't a book. It's an A1, tip-top, clubbing, jam fair. It's sandwich of fun, on ecstasy bread, wrapped up in a big bag like disco fudgeDear Gods.
This isn't a book. It's an A1, tip-top, clubbing, jam fair. It's sandwich of fun, on ecstasy bread, wrapped up in a big bag like disco fudge...
Seriously. It's a technicolour concept album, existing somewhere between Alice in Wonderland, Akira and Trainspotting. It's sex and drugs and incest and feathers and dog-fucking; it's a fractal reality that I really, really wish I'd written.
I guess you have to have been there. If you have the right past - and if you've come past it far enough - you can identify with everything this book reveals. We've all known a Beetle, we've all known a Game Cat. We've been on the ride and we know how it eventually rings hollow, and we know how it feels when it ends. If you've had the experiences, you can follow every loop as it goes round.
And as it stops.
From fractal bullets to the icecream van in the middle of the post-Ramadan party, this is evocative, powerfully visual and leaves you pressed against the back of your chair, hanging on for dear life.
Particularly on audiobook, and with a masterful narrator, it's not something to be missed.
I wish I could give this another star - it's left me absolutely dumbfounded, mind space-spinning.
It's very dense text, a lot of information, and it dI wish I could give this another star - it's left me absolutely dumbfounded, mind space-spinning.
It's very dense text, a lot of information, and it differs from the film in that everything is explained - so loses something of the film's sense of mystery. Having said that, knowing the full story manages to offer an additional level of understanding, and actually brings a real sense of awe and horror.
Perhaps because of Kubrick's interpretation, it's unbelievably visual - astounding powerful scenes of the iconic monolith, the vastness and loneliness of the journey undertaken, the gate discovered and the final transformation.
Loading...
