Status Update

Christine is 12% done

The narrator is doing his best Capt. Jack Sparrow impression for at least two of the underworld thief mentor characters (with the tacit support of the author who cannot stop using the word "savvy?"). It's giving "yes this book WAS published in 2006, 3 years after Pirates of the Carribbean, why do you ask?" Everyone speaks in zingers. Suspension of disbelief is nonexistent. Will have to read instead of audio.

— Sep 20, 2025 11:28AM

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)

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Christine’s Previous Updates

Christine is 99% done

Omg I'm FREEEE

— Sep 26, 2025 08:03PM

Christine is 64% done

oh thank goodness, the interminable flashbacks and interludes are over and the main plot is back. I've been clawing at this cliffside since the last cliffhanger ended 30 minutes ago.

— Sep 23, 2025 08:51PM

Christine is 63% done

I think I'm going to die wondering why this book made little to no use of its pseudo-historical 18th century Venetian setting. Like... why. Why not make the most of it. Canals and bridges aren't enough!!

— Sep 23, 2025 08:48PM

Christine is 58% done

Villain: makes a half-assed attempt on a main character's life that would totally have succeeded if they hadn't decided to go with such an over-the-top finale

me channeling Veep: THE INCOMPETENCE IS STAGGERING

— Sep 23, 2025 08:13PM

Christine is 53% done

I really don't like seeing a story's bones sticking out like this. "Oh that chapter is here so we know XYZ was an important person we should be mourning even though they were underdeveloped," "hey this whole discussion is probably happening bc someone asked why the characters go along with the world's worst plan and fall into the obvious trap," etc.

— Sep 23, 2025 07:35PM

Christine is 47% done

Ok so a death just happened for shock value. And I guess it did shock me because I did not expect such an interesting character to be wasted as a throwaway plot point to raise the stakes. We didn't know the character enough to be heartbroken, just disappointed, and none of the characters seems particularly broken up about the death either. They tell us, but no one shows it.

— Sep 23, 2025 06:02PM

Christine is 38% done

Genuine not sure how to feel about this constant back and forth style of showing heists in progress and then in preparation, etc. I can see how it can be useful for tension or reveals, but... that little home invasion flashback was positively useless. Maybe it was just for worldbuilding? Or the brief action scene? (The bag of glass scene made me feel positively sick. Which was the idea, I suppose.)

— Sep 22, 2025 09:12PM