B. Zelkovich > Recent Status Updates

"Loneliness is the drug from which all other drugs obtain their architecture."

Lines like that are why it's taking me months to read this book. Poem after poem leaves me breathless and spiraling away with thought and wonder. Hopefully I can finish this before the end of the month.

I'm still marveling at this book. I don't quite understand it. I feel as if I *should* be bored. Not much has happened, and it's 75% description, 15% interiority, and 10% dialogue. It is a QUIET book. And we haven't even seen the piano yet!

But... the prose is just so good? What is happening? Nothing, and that's just... fine?

My book club met last night, and though many spoilers were mentioned, I'm somehow even more intrigued to see how this book comes together. It's that kind of book. The what isn't all that important. It's the how and the why that matter.

So, I'm going to keep making way through this one so I can see how it goes and finally add it to my "Read" shelf after all these years.

Okayyyyy. What even is this book? Omniscient narrator that sticks relatively "close" only to occasionally look at the metaphorical camera and drop a bomb on the reader. AND intentional tense shifts that I still haven't quite figured out why they happen when.

How is this his FIRST BOOK???

Okayyyyyy. We have sheet music that Edgar cannot interpret, and now a man who heard an incomprehensible song and went deaf.

If this were any other writer, I'd suspect some sort of cosmic horror a la Erich Zann. But, I don't think this is that kind of book.

Well, I'm definitely not going to finish this in time for tomorrow's book club. Even if all I did was read for the next 24hrs, this isn't that kind of book. It can't be rushed.

That's okay. I'm just happy to finally be reading it.

Just finished the intro and already vibing with this book so hard.

Ughhhhh I don't wanna work! I wanna sit around and listen to this book!! It's sooooo good!

"Where speech fails, touch compensates."

I fear it is hopeless. I have no choice but to fall madly in love with this book.

I'm with Jakob. I don't trust this. And I don't trust Lady Severa one bit.

I don't mean to take this so slowly, but I keep finding myself pausing after each poem, thinking and dissecting and feeling things. It makes for slow going.

Nope. Nuh-uh. I don't trust any of this.

ok... my current theory is that memories are told in present tense, which is a stunning use of tense, my god.

Ohhhhhhh fuck yes. First of all, this book has an omniscient 3rd narrator, which I find FASCINATING.

Secondly, the narration just switched from past to present at a paragraph break and I'm not entirely sure why. At least... Not yet.

Craft level stuff like this is pure catnip to me.

Well, the prose is just as lush as I remembered. I was so wrapped up in it, I nearly overstayed my lunch break!

Yep. Still here. Still having a wonderful time. Very excited to see how the gang gets out of this particular pickle.

Listening to this book has me grinning like an idiot my entire commute. No one makes me love absolute asshole characters like Abercrombie does.

Okay, storytime: I first tried to read this book in 2003 or 2004 when I discovered it on my aunt's bookshelf while briefly living with her. I was maybe 14 at the time. I didn't get far, I remember that much. And while I don't remember ANYTHING about the story, the prose certainly left an impression.

This was one of the first books that made me marvel at what books could be. I can't wait to finally read it.

eyyyyyyyyyyy I've officially made it halfway!

Welp. This is a dnf for me. I couldn't get past Cat's insecurities or Andi's hangups about her career. I knew this would be a hard sell as a Rivalmance, and it just isn't working for me.

okayyyyyyy. Cat is maybe a little too ridiculous. At this point I'm starting to feel bad for Sally, who Cat would probably actually like if she'd just give her an authentic answer to... literally any personal question.

Okay, there's a lot I like here, but this idea that the C-Suite douchebro is insisting on Romance plots for their game to "appeal to female gamers" is by far the most unbelievable thing I've read in a long time.

As if anyone at EA gives two shits about female gamers 😂😂😂

Okay, I am loving the growth between Brother Diaz and Viga. Same with Alex and Sunny. But, I've read enough Abercrombie to know this cannot be trusted. He's setting me up for heartbreak.

I can't wait.

I keep forgetting how long this book is, not because it feels long, but because I keep dreading the ending that surely must be coming soo--

I'm not even halfway, yet???

Even when the Gang™ experiences a genre cliche, I'm still excited to see how these freaks (affectionate) will work their way out of it.

Ok... Cat's unwillingness to just be herself is only making matters worse. I'm trusting that this is the point and will get resolved over the course of the book, but still... why would you order a drink you don't like to seem cool to a blind date?

Andi, meanwhile, continues to be a delight. A jerk, but a delightful one.

I am having a great time with this, it must be said.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy. I've been enjoying myself so far, but this inn scene is where I felt the "hook". I am IN.