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A review by easterncalculus
S. by J.J. Abrams, Doug Dorst
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I got this book because it screamed House of Leaves to me and whilst it definitely scratched that itch, I think it avoids being quite as pretentious or cryptic, save for some puzzles I don’t think anyone has solved yet. The book tasks you with decoding a complex allegory for the (fictional) Author’s life, with some help (and distractions) from the characters in the margins, who have their own story going on.
The production level is top notch; the book itself feels weighty with age, the pen and pencil scrawls look just like the real thing and the book is full of detailed clippings and inserts that slide out as you read - a very high attention to detail.
The core story - “Ship of Theseus” - is wonderful. I’d happily read more novels “by” V.M. Straka, even without the surrounding meta-narrative. But it’s this surrounding story, carefully threaded through in multiple passes, that really brings the piece together.
My only complaint is that there are lots of finely crafted instances of foreshadowing, parallels between the narrative and the author, references to events/people/literature, and in the majority of cases the ever helpful margin notes rob you of the experience of solving or noticing these “naturally”. This is realistic, of course, and really hits home the feeling that you’ve somehow obtained someone else’s weathered, battered and documented copy.
The production level is top notch; the book itself feels weighty with age, the pen and pencil scrawls look just like the real thing and the book is full of detailed clippings and inserts that slide out as you read - a very high attention to detail.
The core story - “Ship of Theseus” - is wonderful. I’d happily read more novels “by” V.M. Straka, even without the surrounding meta-narrative. But it’s this surrounding story, carefully threaded through in multiple passes, that really brings the piece together.
My only complaint is that there are lots of finely crafted instances of foreshadowing, parallels between the narrative and the author, references to events/people/literature, and in the majority of cases the ever helpful margin notes rob you of the experience of solving or noticing these “naturally”. This is realistic, of course, and really hits home the feeling that you’ve somehow obtained someone else’s weathered, battered and documented copy.