Perdido Street Station and other things
Jun. 13th, 2003 10:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lathanyYesterday I finally finished the king of doorstops - a hardbacked version of Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.
The book was bought for me by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bateleur's parents 'cos the author had received good reviews for his previous book - King Rat. Plus the genre (fantasy) is obviously my field. However it got put to one side because it was too big and heavy to go commuting with me. I have since fished it back out and made a determined effort to get through it.
Unfortunately it turned out to be the sort of book that I only finish because I own it. The characters in it were all in depressing situations and I found it impossible to identify with any of them. The genre, whilst fantasy, could reasonably be described as horror (eg. plenty of maiming and torture occurs) which I personally try to avoid. And, worst of all, the book was half-way through before the plot finally started.
Fortunately, there are some good features. it's well written and there are some wonderful ideas in there. Plus I'm sure the characters will appeal more to someone with a greater interest in depression and tragedy than I've ever had. But it really wasn't my sort of thing. At all.
Consequently, it is safe to say I'll be avoiding Mieville in future unless someone assures me that his style had lightened up and gained plot speed.
Bea's physiotherapy is drawing to a close, which would mark the end of all the twins "special attention" visits by various health experts. Except... if they don't start talking (in English) soon they'll get speech therapy. This is moderately depressing. I don't actually think they have a long term problem and I do like the people that have been working with them, but I've had my fill of visits now. I want the whole saga of special treatment to be over.
Outside of toddler-stuff, my time has been pretty story-heavy. I've written a short story, continued with my second book and generally been waiting for some feedback on Mourn's Gift. Plus I have a couple of Shakespeare trips due (Measure for Measure - 28th June, Twelfth Night - 28th July) that I'm looking forward to.
Roleplaying-wise,bateleur's Monde game is this weekend and my Athory campaign continues next weekend. Plus a number of one-offs and a third Dragon-blooded session are due to happen soon. Then, in six weeks time, I have another twinless week planned.
Life can be good.
The book was bought for me by
bateleur's parents 'cos the author had received good reviews for his previous book - King Rat. Plus the genre (fantasy) is obviously my field. However it got put to one side because it was too big and heavy to go commuting with me. I have since fished it back out and made a determined effort to get through it.Unfortunately it turned out to be the sort of book that I only finish because I own it. The characters in it were all in depressing situations and I found it impossible to identify with any of them. The genre, whilst fantasy, could reasonably be described as horror (eg. plenty of maiming and torture occurs) which I personally try to avoid. And, worst of all, the book was half-way through before the plot finally started.
Fortunately, there are some good features. it's well written and there are some wonderful ideas in there. Plus I'm sure the characters will appeal more to someone with a greater interest in depression and tragedy than I've ever had. But it really wasn't my sort of thing. At all.
Consequently, it is safe to say I'll be avoiding Mieville in future unless someone assures me that his style had lightened up and gained plot speed.
Bea's physiotherapy is drawing to a close, which would mark the end of all the twins "special attention" visits by various health experts. Except... if they don't start talking (in English) soon they'll get speech therapy. This is moderately depressing. I don't actually think they have a long term problem and I do like the people that have been working with them, but I've had my fill of visits now. I want the whole saga of special treatment to be over.
Outside of toddler-stuff, my time has been pretty story-heavy. I've written a short story, continued with my second book and generally been waiting for some feedback on Mourn's Gift. Plus I have a couple of Shakespeare trips due (Measure for Measure - 28th June, Twelfth Night - 28th July) that I'm looking forward to.
Roleplaying-wise,
bateleur's Monde game is this weekend and my Athory campaign continues next weekend. Plus a number of one-offs and a third Dragon-blooded session are due to happen soon. Then, in six weeks time, I have another twinless week planned.Life can be good.
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Date: 2003-06-13 05:21 am (UTC)I've recently finished reading Perdido Street Station as well, and was disappointed with it (though probably not to the extent you were).
I really liked the setting, and thought the start was rather interesting as it meandered through the city without the need for direction. At around the halfway point it does seem to acquire a story, but unfortunately a rather dull and depressing one. The second half of the book is then spent on the uninspiring plot rather than the interesting background.
Generally I like a good plot in a fantasy novel, but this was one that I thought might have been better without.
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Date: 2003-06-13 07:49 am (UTC)As in 22nd June next weekend? Did The Gibbon miss a meeting? Not that The Gibbon is busy that day, just not currently knowing anything.
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Date: 2003-06-13 08:00 am (UTC)