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Shards
215 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2023
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6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 20, 2024
Shards is a novella shattered into 100 separate entries. When it shines, it has this prophetic voice not unlike a homeless man with delusions of grandeur and vengeance. It has the force of one damaged by horror and vice, desperately searching for vindication of hatred for what the world has become. It is calloused and threatening. But when it does not shine, it feels trite. Perhaps a bit resigned and sometimes comedic. There is not much room for plot or character development with the narrative structure and length.
Color and space on the page play an important role in Shards. Many of the entries have distinct visual flair (sometimes not easy to endure) and give the impression that a consistent structure was never possible.
War and personal choice, or lack thereof, seem to be key themes of the narrative. These two pop up repeatedly. There's little distinction between the end of the war and the return to America. I got the impression of wilderness and lawlessness throughout, with a few exceptions. The sections concerning choice in our lives and how they tie into the meaning of "the Whores of Nevada" warrant further meditation.
While this was quite a short debut, I did enjoy it and found the format inspiring too.
Color and space on the page play an important role in Shards. Many of the entries have distinct visual flair (sometimes not easy to endure) and give the impression that a consistent structure was never possible.
War and personal choice, or lack thereof, seem to be key themes of the narrative. These two pop up repeatedly. There's little distinction between the end of the war and the return to America. I got the impression of wilderness and lawlessness throughout, with a few exceptions. The sections concerning choice in our lives and how they tie into the meaning of "the Whores of Nevada" warrant further meditation.
While this was quite a short debut, I did enjoy it and found the format inspiring too.
January 7, 2024
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book. Not my usual genre but I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre.
November 8, 2023
Probably the best book to come out this year. I suppose there's a month to go, but I doubt I'll see something to match it. Shards manages to fit so much good shit in such a tiny package, and is probably my favorite work of "ergodic" literature I've read so far.
It's short enough to the point you can knock it out in a day with ease, and even through its incoherence it's an absolutely enthralling read. Even if you have no idea what's going on, every page is either unique and memorable, or a solid piece of the story with nice prose.
I definitely wish I was taking notes my first time reading, and I definitely know I'm going to give it a reread sooner or later. The depth, unique formatting, and short length make it a book almost designed to be reread without losing that sense of both clarity and confusion.
Even if you struggle to grasp what's going on in full, you'll still find parts that stick with you.
The only complaint I have about it, is that at some points the book feels almost too difficult to grasp. The story's odd structure is a double edged sword, giving every page importance and impact, but also diminishing some others because of how obscured their meaning is given their place in the story.
Excellent book, highly recommend it.
It's short enough to the point you can knock it out in a day with ease, and even through its incoherence it's an absolutely enthralling read. Even if you have no idea what's going on, every page is either unique and memorable, or a solid piece of the story with nice prose.
I definitely wish I was taking notes my first time reading, and I definitely know I'm going to give it a reread sooner or later. The depth, unique formatting, and short length make it a book almost designed to be reread without losing that sense of both clarity and confusion.
Even if you struggle to grasp what's going on in full, you'll still find parts that stick with you.
The only complaint I have about it, is that at some points the book feels almost too difficult to grasp. The story's odd structure is a double edged sword, giving every page importance and impact, but also diminishing some others because of how obscured their meaning is given their place in the story.
Excellent book, highly recommend it.
October 31, 2023
Shards is devastating foray into the splintered remains of the mind of our antihero, a veteran of Vietnam shellshocked throughout his chaotic return to America, wandering the desertscapes of Las Vegas in a maddening streetwar against a shapeshifting coven of archons, The Whores of Nevada.
Shards is remarkable, distinctly composed, wildly imaginative, and entirely insane. Just wow. Heavy.
Shards is remarkable, distinctly composed, wildly imaginative, and entirely insane. Just wow. Heavy.
November 13, 2023
I don't often give book reviews and when I do they're usually 5 stars. That's because when I don't like something I prefer to remain silent, as I'm not a negative person. However, when I do like something, I like to make it known. Shards by Robert James Cross is one of the best books I've read in quite some time. It was awesome!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews