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This is a weak novel. Werthead Send a noteboard - 11/05/2010 03:50:01 PM
I've tried it several times, never managing to penetrate more than about 100 pages. There's some nice ideas, but the insane absurdist humour comes across as the author trying way too hard to be Rankin and failing miserably, the chaotic weirdness comes across as the author trying way too hard to be Mieville and failing miserably, and the unreliable narrator comes across as the author trying way too hard to be Wolfe and failing miserably.

Between the derivativeness, there are flashes of talent, but the book apes too many other voices and styles to establish its own identity. In addition, the plot goes off on frequent tangents which are so insanely long that it's hard to remember what's going on in the main storyline when the plot returns to it for a few pages before shooting off on some other lengthy flashback.

Overall, highly disappointing. Since I don't review books I don't finish (the book may very well have turned into the greatest piece of literature the world has ever seen on p. 101), I never wrote a review of it. But the first 100 pages are pretty bad.
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The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway - 10/05/2010 06:01:50 PM 5376 Views
I have no idea what you just wrote : ) *NM* - 10/05/2010 07:01:53 PM 909 Views
Re: Shall I rewrite it? *NM* - 10/05/2010 07:02:37 PM 899 Views
It works perfect for the book then. - 10/05/2010 08:29:57 PM 1581 Views
Which Gaiman and Pratchett? *SPOILERS* - 10/05/2010 09:51:01 PM 1547 Views
Re: *SPOILERS* MAJORLY. - 10/05/2010 09:57:01 PM 1470 Views
Re: *SPOILERS* MAJORLY. - 10/05/2010 09:59:57 PM 1595 Views
Nice review! I'll read it at some point, in time for the book club if not earlier... - 10/05/2010 09:55:22 PM 1470 Views
Re: I'm resigned to being the only person who didn't like it. - 10/05/2010 09:58:10 PM 1525 Views
It did not remind me of Buffy. - 10/05/2010 10:00:41 PM 1449 Views
Re: SPOILERS for season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. - 10/05/2010 10:18:45 PM 1489 Views
Re: SPOILERS for season seven of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. - 10/05/2010 10:26:13 PM 1496 Views
Re: Ooooh yes. - 10/05/2010 10:32:13 PM 1557 Views
Re: Ooooh yes. - 11/05/2010 12:11:53 AM 1428 Views
I don't like it so far. About 150-200 pages in. Not impressed. - 10/05/2010 10:02:21 PM 1498 Views
I don't recall it getting any better later - 10/05/2010 10:15:55 PM 1471 Views
Why are you not impressed? *NM* - 10/05/2010 10:16:29 PM 763 Views
Re: SPOILERS - 10/05/2010 10:22:52 PM 1482 Views
Re: SPOILERS - 10/05/2010 10:28:06 PM 1429 Views
Re: That last mentioned is awesome. - 10/05/2010 10:33:29 PM 1587 Views
Re: That last mentioned is awesome. - 11/05/2010 12:12:21 AM 1466 Views
Seems like he's trying too hard. - 10/05/2010 10:39:34 PM 1551 Views
Re: It does end better than it begins and goes on. - 10/05/2010 10:23:30 PM 1495 Views
This is a weak novel. - 11/05/2010 03:50:01 PM 1430 Views
This is one of the books you really should not judge until you've finished it *NM* - 11/05/2010 04:15:23 PM 787 Views
That's why I didn't. - 11/05/2010 07:59:54 PM 1491 Views
But that raises another question - 11/05/2010 08:03:45 PM 1454 Views
Re: It's definitely not fabulous. - 11/05/2010 06:47:01 PM 1524 Views
I understand your complaints - 12/05/2010 11:45:10 PM 1493 Views

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