Ryan Williamson > Recent Status Updates

In this one Mitchell's favorite ingredient comes into play quite late making me feel like I got 300 pages of a romance novel as the setup. Then suddenly I'm on high alert and it, like always, feels like we're in the final dramatic last 20 minutes of a movie. Now I am hanging on every word. Hard to say if this pacing is better or worse than his other books but whatever I'm a huge fan so I can't be objective.

Just like Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me by Javier Marías, I now realize I am really comfortable with this writing style of 'Its just one never ending sentence, steam of conscience style.' Very cool.

I don't think anyone who has embraced evo biology needs this book. You already know it and this book doesn't really make a novel or enlightening remix of what is out there. It takes a shot now and then but then makes the case things are more deterministic than you'd imagine. It really seems more like a book for college grads who need to make sense of their ideals and didn't get much expose to the sciences.

A superb style that has got me slowing down and enjoying every little bite and paragraph.

Blackmirror style sci-fi dystopia which is still novel in how it places who we've already become into the dark places. Cathartic for now.

The main character is a child, some supporting characters are children, and its frankly getting in the way of telling an intriguing story. I want my historical fiction to not be afraid to be historic or for some artistic license. So many children POV in a story about the inquisition strikes me as avoidant.

Exactly the type of fantasy that makes it impossible to abandon the genre.

Torn between the things I like and the fact that part 4 totally trolls the reader.

I don't know about the characters or objectives but the story and structure is holding it. I'm into it but its not blowing my mind quite yet.

It took time to click. All I can say is I realize when I like it and it leaves a lot to process in terms of why. I get its humor later on in reflection or sometimes a moment of absurdity is just that funny.

I think whats magic about the series all happened already in its conception. Its just such a magical setup. Ok, you could drop the ball I suppose, but this comes natural and easy, but the moments that are just the characters taking the mickey out of each other are much better in the book than in the TV series. On the page I still imagine them tougher and rougher. The TV image hasn't imprinted beyond Oldman

200 pages in we were progressing into the heart of the mysteries of the book and NOPE we have to be pulled back towards mundane errands? I am assuming here comes at least 100 pages of something much less exciting... blah

I think I finally found my 'comfort' series.

Embracing the cliche, these excruciatingly slow scenes are creepy and each with its own little hook that never makes sense, I have to say its Lynchian. Forgettable at times but compelling and in this manic style that is hard to put down but not at all for the reasons I usually say something is hard to put down. Like being stuck in river current but what is ahead doesn't look life-threatening so I'm gonna stick it out

So its really committing to this story structure for the whole book I assume, the payoff better be worth it...

Maybe one of the funniest moments I've had with a book as of yet. 2 chapters of relentless obsession, creepy and wrong only to have chapter 3 use the same tools to lead into this great punchline I didn't see coming. Blown away

The first two chapters are rather novel and fun as the style of the writing really brings you into the head of the character as stifling as it maybe...

Still the best book I've read in the last 10 years, however on the 2nd reading I am discovering I sort of forgot about how much this IS about living through a communist experience and an experience of neighbor ratting our neighbor. Unlike TIME SHELTER though it does such a concise job of making thoughtful points that ring true about what it is like.

It strikes me that this book is giving me all the things I want in a story, paintingesque scenes, a fast progression through time, genre-blending... yet it feels somewhat hollow. Though perhaps we're suppose to really connect with the children characters who I expect will be grown up protagonists very soon.

Embracing my most dramatic thoughts; I'd put this book in a box for my children to read in case I passed away as it is packed full of wisdom about the topic of love, men and women, finding happiness, leading an unusual life...

Ocean's 11 vibe. A bit too much filler. Descriptions of buildings, bleh. Exciting? Not so much.

Right around the middle the story is less about family drama and more waxing philosophical about love and war. Sadly, those lines feel much less authentic.

A mixed up photo album of memories with great writing. Remove the linear nature of gossipy drama and suddenly it seems less overwrought and digestable. That is my excuse at least. Very happy with this one so far and at 200 pages it'll keep me on my total book goal, easy peasy

Like Name of the Rose and very much UNLIKE Foucault's Pendulum, this book would greatly complement learning about the history. I wish I had saved it for summer for the time to look up so much more.

Enjoyably biblical. Obviously hallucinatory. Lazily written one-sided character just exhaling liberal dogma.

Not as graceful a tale as I assumed. I mean its an adventure but most of the time our duo of heroes is out to get drunk and get laid.

As the plot twists there is so much more to engage with. Things have quickly become mind-bending on a few levels. Really ramped up the intrigue.

Holds up well. Manages to do a great job keeping you focused on the small part being played in a much larger plot. Has great turns. The detailed approach to the minuatue in the political dance between characters isn't always fruitful or entertaining.

It is quite enchanting and visual but it suffers the problems of a cultural artifact just no longer having the same impact.

setting the stage and building up drama, bringing characters back together with new purpose. Its just not particularly compelling though I am confident it will be pulled off with the new roles and angles.