panWell, I was certainly sold the dummy here. Quite definitely the worst book I have read so far this year ... perhaps even a contender for worst of this century. Even the beautiful presentation (the cover beneath the dust jacket, and the endpapers, are exquisite) could not redeem it.
See my Goodreads review at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50202953. #books #bookstagram #fiction #dontreadit #art #history #dreadfulbook #dontjudgeabookbyitscover
mackelie I‘m really sorry you didn‘t enjoy this book! On the contrary, I loved it and think it‘s a brilliant read. But I do agree that it may not be for everyone :) 4y
Moonprismpower I enjoyed this book. However starting out, the story was very confusing and I had to read and reread quite slowly before it turned into a good book for me. I feel like it leaned quite close to literary fiction and usually literary is a hard pass for me. I hope you find a better next read! 4y
Palimpsest I can‘t access your Goodreads review, but I was only going to read your review to see what you found so unlikeable because this book in my opinion is brilliant. I may have interpreted it differently than the author‘s intention, but for me it was about creation, almost an ethnography; of being alone and trying to make sense of a world with very few clues, but continuing to live because that‘s what we are built to do. Book reminds me of Borges too. (edited) 4y
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Palimpsest I‘ve also read quite a bit about the real Piranesi and his imagined prisons, so my English lit trained brain was making all sorts of connections in theory which is how I look at literature. Just had to defend it because I think it‘s the best new fiction book I read last year. Not that anyone cares about my opinion, but to say that even the boards don‘t do it justice is harsh. 😕Then again I don‘t like what most people read. 4y
Bookwomble @Palimpsest I loved it, also, and I got a Borges feel from it as well. The Narnia connection was delightful, too, but mostly the power and grace of Clarke's language and images. Then again, I don't like what most people read 😃 4y
Palimpsest @Bookwomble I agree with the Narnia feel. I also got a bit of Samuel Beckett. Please note I don‘t mean to sound flippant when I said like you that I don‘t like what most people read, but I don‘t automatically buy what publishers push (although this book deserved the publicity) and I enjoy a lot of classical works, classic novels, non-fiction, some fantasy and a little avant-garde. I like well written, thought provoking stories and this fits. 😄 4y
Bookwomble @Palimpsest I didn't think you sounded flippant 🙂 4y
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