Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Special Topics in Calamity Physics (part 2)
Ok, I finished it. It lived up to the hype.
The first 2/3rds or so of the book is a classic "here-is-what-lead-up-to-the-death-it-makes-no-sense" sorta book. it seems like you are being told yet another story of friendship lost. Ah, but the last 1/3 turns into super sleuth fact digging, go through every scrap mentioned in the first part of the book and figure out the mystery you did not even see coming. Quite good. Very enjoyable. Well pulled off.
I enjoyed it and wish I had another. Now I have to read a few boring books for my book club. Of course, I don't know they are boring, I am just assuming as always. I guess by underestimating books I enjoy the good ones more since I always expect them to be crap.
The first 2/3rds or so of the book is a classic "here-is-what-lead-up-to-the-death-it-makes-no-sense" sorta book. it seems like you are being told yet another story of friendship lost. Ah, but the last 1/3 turns into super sleuth fact digging, go through every scrap mentioned in the first part of the book and figure out the mystery you did not even see coming. Quite good. Very enjoyable. Well pulled off.
I enjoyed it and wish I had another. Now I have to read a few boring books for my book club. Of course, I don't know they are boring, I am just assuming as always. I guess by underestimating books I enjoy the good ones more since I always expect them to be crap.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
A first novel that is rather original.
I am only 1/2 way through it, but enjoying it.
The main character, Blue, is an erudite high school student penning her Life Story after the death of friend/teacher. The interesting literary convention she uses throughout the novel is citing references for information she shares. Such as describing a person as looking like a specific animal and then giving reference to the book and page in the MLA Handbook format.
Of course there is more it is a mystery, but until I reach the end of the book this is all I am sharing.
plus, a quick link to an article about the author in the New York Times Books section
I am only 1/2 way through it, but enjoying it.
The main character, Blue, is an erudite high school student penning her Life Story after the death of friend/teacher. The interesting literary convention she uses throughout the novel is citing references for information she shares. Such as describing a person as looking like a specific animal and then giving reference to the book and page in the MLA Handbook format.
Of course there is more it is a mystery, but until I reach the end of the book this is all I am sharing.
plus, a quick link to an article about the author in the New York Times Books section
