Play Book Tag discussion

I know this book is immensely popular and has been given 5 stars by most people here. I've been meaning to pick it up for some time but never quite felt in the mood for it, only doing so finally for Jen's March Madness game.

Maybe my instincts were right? I just could not get into this book. This is the story of several people in a village in Chechnya in a time of war, and it goes back and forth in points of view as well as time. I found this pretty confusing and disorienting, and was one of the main reasons I struggled with it. Normally I don't mind this kind of back-and-forthing as it eventually gets tied together in the end, and it does. However, I struggled to like the characters as well. I could not relate to any of them, and only the impetus of the game kept me reading. And though it improved for me as the scattered threads were slowly knitted together, the final tapestry at the end still did not make up for the struggle I went through to get there.

I could, however, see why this is so popular, and so lauded. The writing was almost lyrical at times, and the bleak view it gives the reader into war in a country most of us are far removed from feel all too real in its desolation. Maybe the depressing atmosphere of it was another reason I could not like it very much despite its literary merits. I'm still unsure whether I would round up or down from my 3.5 rating, but if pressed I will give it the benefit of the awards it has won and round up to 4.

annapi wrote: "I know this book is immensely popular and has been given 5 stars by most people here. I've been meaning to pick it up for some time but never quite felt in the mood for it, only doing so finally fo..."

I always hate it when I don't love a book that everyone else does. And there are any number of them for me.

I am definitely on the love side of this one and would read anything this young author writes. My favorite books are love hate books and I love a book that rends you...

I adored this book but found that it took a lot of commitment to read. It was one of those books that was a five star once finished but may have been less if I had to rate it at the half way mark. The writing had me gasping. I've got The Tsar etc on my baseball list and will be reading it asap if I a not lucky enough to have it pitched at E.

Susie wrote: "I adored this book but found that it took a lot of commitment to read. It was one of those books that was a five star once finished but may have been less if I had to rate it at the half way mark. ..."

The Tsar of Love and Techno is SOOO good. I am pretty sure you will love it.

I loved this book and also loved his recent one The Tsar of Love and Techno. His books take some work to tie all the pieces together, but so worth it in the end- IMHO

I can't wait!

I also loved Constellation. I generally don't read books of short stories but plan to make an exception for Marra

Denizen wrote: "I also loved Constellation. I generally don't read books of short stories but plan to make an exception for Marra"

You know how I feel about short stories, but I loved his new book. To me it didn't really seem like a book of short stories as they all fit together.

Maybe I will get brave and read Adam Johnson's Fortune Smiles

Booknblues wrote: "Maybe I will get brave and read Adam Johnson's Fortune Smiles "

And maybe I'll read your review and decide to read it, too!