Tony Su - aNobii

Books (196)

All books Added (Newest) Title (A to Z) Title (Z to A) Rating (Highest) Rating (Lowest) Finished (Newest) Finished (Oldest) Published (Newest) Published (Oldest) Added (Newest) Added (Oldest)

- The Slap (99)
- By Christos Tsiolkas
- Reading since May 13, 2012
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
- Fifty Shades of Grey (71)
- By E L James
- Finished on May 13, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Fifty Shades of Grey

This is yet another solid 2-star, borderline 3-star work for me. Essentially pop literary porn and easily dismissible as it should be, this extremely graphic tale of a clash of two worlds in urban Seattle offers some unexpectedly clever plot development, tantalizing description of the inner struggle ... (continue)

This is yet another solid 2-star, borderline 3-star work for me. Essentially pop literary porn and easily dismissible as it should be, this extremely graphic tale of a clash of two worlds in urban Seattle offers some unexpectedly clever plot development, tantalizing description of the inner struggles of those caught in the game of lust, and a suspiciously iconic-feeling central character Christian Grey. Combined with the breezy, at times sensual, at times very funny writing and the many scandalous escapades between the two main characters, it's a guilty pleasure all the way through.
While the central premise of the story might be simple- mysterious über-sexy billionaire meets innocent college girl and a game of sex and control unfolds- the author successfully brings out the darkness hidden in the back of all the kinks, making it not just about the sex but the formative power, all-consuming force and devastating effects of sex. She poses the characters before difficult, very human dilemmas and asks interesting questions about what's normal and allowed in the world of desire. In all this, the book excels. Its biggest accomploshment, however, must be the creation of Christian Grey, a devilishly charming and positively demonic character who's so impenetrable but seems to fully make sense on some depraved logic of his own. Sex is at once his baggage, his weakness, his weapon. Like Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho", it's a character that inspires awe, hate, disgust and ultimately curiosity. It's to the author's credit that finally someone is willing to explore this socially tabooed part of the human psyche.
With all that said, it can't be denied that the writing itself isn't nearly so good as some of the ideas. Blatantly repetitive word use not only makes the sex scenes get old pretty quickly but generally drags its literary value firmly back down to that of air travel entertainment whenever any of its great plot points or characters threatens to take it to another level. Still, as a piece of unhealthily delicious and easily digestible reading, this book is more than solid.

Is this helpful?

— May 14, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Was zusammengehört (1)
- By Markus Feldenkirchen
- Finished on May 12, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Was zusammengehört

This debut novel tries- but fails- to weave a story of puppy love and loss of innocence into the grand historical background of the German reunification and the changing landscape of Ireland in the last 20 years. Juggling way too many things in its hands, it comes off half-baked in every regard.
Th ... (continue)

This debut novel tries- but fails- to weave a story of puppy love and loss of innocence into the grand historical background of the German reunification and the changing landscape of Ireland in the last 20 years. Juggling way too many things in its hands, it comes off half-baked in every regard.
The doomed love story between the German school boy and the Irish country girl is plagued by cliches from the start. All the usual obstacles are there: the ridiculously demonized father, the stifling credo of the catholic church, the two-week romance versus the cross-country distance. It doesn't help that the very first spark of love, the unreasonable level of emotional investment arising from that spark, the forced separation, the euphorious reunion, the final break-up, all the way to the last blast from the past revealed twenty years later, are all imagined and told in such an uninspired way. No plot ever comes off as original nor any sentiment especially resounding. The structure of the book leading up to the all-important letter at the end draws, unfavorably, comparisons with Julian Barnes' masterful "Sense of an Ending", in which the words revealing a long-hidden secret truly shakes one to the core.
The author also dedicated significant portions of the book to the description of Germany on the eve of its reunification, which is surely a momentous historical event, but the author's words never really touched upon that sensitive nerve of a people facing the crossroads of their country's destiny. And anyways, this part of the book doesn't really bear any substantial connection to the love story, making it appear redundant and arbitrary.
The sighs of someone looking back at his life are always poignant, in these passages where the main character reflects upon the missed opportunities and the lost youth, the book is at its strongest. However, those scattered bits of real emotions are way too few and far between.

Is this helpful?

— May 12, 2012 | Add your feedback
- The Art of Fielding (27)
- A Novel
- By Chad Harbach
- Finished on May 2, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Art of Fielding

The 2-star rating is a little harsh, but this campus tale about a
natural-born baseball super-talent, his rise and fall and how the
lives of those around him changed after a fateful misthrow, while
generally fluent and entertaining, ultimately lacked that spark for me. There are plausibility issues, ... (continue)

The 2-star rating is a little harsh, but this campus tale about a
natural-born baseball super-talent, his rise and fall and how the
lives of those around him changed after a fateful misthrow, while
generally fluent and entertaining, ultimately lacked that spark for me. There are plausibility issues, as the actions of key characters at critical plot twists simply don't ring true (the female protagonist, Pella's sudden affections for one or the other character; the phone call during the final champions game etc.) and issues of emotional affectibility, which drops considerably when characters or events cease to be convincing. Also, I think the author was being reserved with his plot and didn't want any added schmalz for an overly Hollywood narrative; however, I think this restraint may have hurt the book in the end, as too little warm blood was pumped into and too little inspirational music played around a story about dreams, aspirations and camaraderie.
That said, the author did create a very successful character with Mike Schwartz. From his impressive build and appearance, his clear-eyed self-assessment and grasp of the game, his focus, temperament, vulnerability, look on life, they all came together nicely to map out the damaged inner landscape of this forceful figure. It's a shame this book isn't really about Mike, but more about the star he discovered, Henry Skrimshander, who, while also given extensive and meticulous descriptions, never came to seem so fully-realized as the character of Mike. That he was supposed to be the emotional epicenter of the whole story ultimately fell short.
Of the various relationships depicted in the book, the one between
Mike and Henry is probably the most interesting. Too bad the author didn't make the most out of it and just curiously glided through several critical turning points in their story.

Is this helpful?

— May 4, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Started Early, Took My Dog (46)
- By Kate Atkinson
- Finished on Apr 27, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Started Early, Took My Dog

Once again, Kate Atkinson established herself as an extremely gifted crime novelist as she renewed the rules of the tired genre and went deep on the human end in this voluminous, complex, from cover-to-cover engrossing book.
For a huge chunk of time, the evil at the heart of this story wasn't even ... (continue)

Once again, Kate Atkinson established herself as an extremely gifted crime novelist as she renewed the rules of the tired genre and went deep on the human end in this voluminous, complex, from cover-to-cover engrossing book.
For a huge chunk of time, the evil at the heart of this story wasn't even identified as various characters who bore witness to a cruel but rather unsensational case of domestic violence at a mall were painstakingly introduced. Through the author's dead-on grasp of the regrets, frustrations and takes on life of this large cast of characters, however, we got a fascinating emotional map for each and one of them, their motives and actions, plans and aspirations, which was just a joy to read in the wickedly comic tone of voice she chose for the book . At the same time, there's always that unshakeable feeling of dread and foreboding in the background, hinted at by means of mysterious disappearances and hush-ups about an incident some 35 years ago. Padded with this rich, human backstory, when the shocking act of crime was finally revealed halfway through, the stakes were raised even higher, and the pace all the more breathtaking.
By the end of the book, one got the dictinct impression that not everything was explained and every loose end tied up, and the central mystery was not resolved in the most jump-out-of-seat kind of brilliant way, which is always a mild let-down for a promising crime tale. But in this case, the process of discovery counted much more than the actual find. All those love, hate, disappointments and rage at play made the search for a long-buried truth a marvel to watch, in and of itself. That the author could maintain the tricky balance between devilish humor and tragic sigh for such dark material is testament to her formidable writing prowess.

Is this helpful?

— Apr 27, 2012 | Add your feedback

- The Girl On The Landing (3)
- By Torday
- Finished on Apr 21, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Girl On The Landing

That I was so taken by surprise by the book's creepy tone and hints at the supernatural was probably attributable to its harmless title and the rather cheerful cover design. But the element of surprise is only part of the reason why it works well as a thriller, especially in the set-up stage and mos ... (continue)

That I was so taken by surprise by the book's creepy tone and hints at the supernatural was probably attributable to its harmless title and the rather cheerful cover design. But the element of surprise is only part of the reason why it works well as a thriller, especially in the set-up stage and most of the mid-section. The author writes elegantly but efficiently, cutting right to the chase in the opening chapter and starting playing with the narrator's reliability and the reader's perception even before that chapter's end. The mystery then gradually and continually intensifies in the following segments as ever more inexplicable incidents and revelations of the past plague the lives of the two central characters.
The plot is rich and densely packed, keeping the story moving along and building up a nicely claustrophobic atmosphere. The prose also contributes to that feeling of strangeness, with its clipped, calm British voice recounting all the disturbing, logic-defying events that pile up and seem to head for ever more malicious directions. But the smartest decision the author makes is probably the unconventional double-narrator structure, intercutting between the perspectives of the husband and wife throught the book. It gives readers access to two different mindsets and angles of observation, which is tricky considering the mystery nature of the story, but the author does this quite remarkably and thus enriches the narrative without spoiling key plot prematurely.
It's a pity that while the big reveal near the end is quite sensational in a gruesome way, it doesn't involve too much original idea or intricate construction, which cheapens all the clues doled out before and lowers the final impact. In all, a fully serviceable psychological thriller that falls short of brilliance in the final stretch.

Is this helpful?

— Apr 22, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Tschick (3)
- By Wolfgang Herrndorf
- Finished on Apr 17, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Tschick

While the plot construct or the writing of this novel about two adolescents from Berlin going on a road trip across the former Eastern Germany doesn't really reach any literary heights or break any new grounds, the authenticity of its voice (through its 14-year-old narrator), the simplicity and hone ... (continue)

While the plot construct or the writing of this novel about two adolescents from Berlin going on a road trip across the former Eastern Germany doesn't really reach any literary heights or break any new grounds, the authenticity of its voice (through its 14-year-old narrator), the simplicity and honesty of its story, the confidence with which it combines travel literature, coming-of-age drama and teenage humor give it an easy charm that's undeniably appealing.
The author's greatest success with this book probably lies in his unpatronizing portrayal of the two main characters, Maik and Tschick, two kids with completely different backgrounds and their own shares of baggage, yet both lost in the travails of adolescence and the questions of life. Through a language that is energetic, refreshingly unpretentious and deceptively amateurish, the author offers us insights into the deepest insecurities and doubts, the sharpest observations and dissatisfactions of the youngsters, sentiments that we all once had but only forgotten about. In hearing Maik tell this story that involves friendships, adventures, love, family, morals, choices and the meaning of growing up, we get to relive all those beautiful, painful, earth-shattering thoughts and it's a wonderful feeling.
This is not a grand novel that challenges or overwhelms, but more like a humble, bittersweet ode to youth and innocence. And if the lovely, heartbreaking last sentence of the book is any indication, this writer knows what those are all about.

Is this helpful?

— Apr 17, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Book of clouds (2)
- By Chloe Aridjis
- Finished on Apr 7, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Book of clouds

The writing of this debut novel is solid- concise, expressive, appropriately subdued and always evocative of Berlin's unique blend of historic melancholy and continental chill. From beginning to finish the author manages to maintain this level of atmospheric writing so the reader feels consistently ... (continue)

The writing of this debut novel is solid- concise, expressive, appropriately subdued and always evocative of Berlin's unique blend of historic melancholy and continental chill. From beginning to finish the author manages to maintain this level of atmospheric writing so the reader feels consistently enveloped in an authentic and strangely compelling voice, which is already more than can be said of many novels.
However, the plot is, for me, a problem. Or rather, the lack thereof. On the whole, this novel feels more like a string of well-made observations of the city and its people than a thoroughly thought-through story. When the heroine starts off her narration by recounting an impossible sighting on the U-Bahn from years ago, the tone is set for a conspiracy-flavored, possibly mythology-related thriller. The author does nothing to redirect this assumption by throwing all kinds of suspicius characters, creepy locations, invisible sounds and signals, and unexplained events into the mix. In the end, however, everything just runs their course without ever being resolved and you don't get the sense that a plot with a beginning and an end has been presented.
It's not that all these mysterious anecdotes aren't fun to read. In fact, they capture the essence of life in Berlin very nicely and build up the momentum of the narrative effectively. That none of it leads to fruition turns out to be a great disaapointment though.

Is this helpful?

— Apr 8, 2012 | Add your feedback
- The Family Fang (12)
- By Kevin Wilson
- Finished on Apr 3, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Family Fang

The premise of this book is quite arresting and it catches you right in the very first chapter. Slickly packaged in an unconventionally staged theft, the ingenuity/absurdity of modern performance art, the wildly colorful characters and the twisted family dynamics of the Fangs are all on vivid displa ... (continue)

The premise of this book is quite arresting and it catches you right in the very first chapter. Slickly packaged in an unconventionally staged theft, the ingenuity/absurdity of modern performance art, the wildly colorful characters and the twisted family dynamics of the Fangs are all on vivid display in the opening pages. Most of the first half of this book stays intriguing, with its irreverent pokes at the art world, hilarious anecdotes of some of the Fangs' old pieces, and the aftermaths of all those distorted experiments as evidenced by the two emotionally wrecked Fang children.
Unfortunately it goes downhill from there. The repetitive nature of the flashbacks and the lack of a convincing follow-up to the major plot twist halfway through the book eat away the fun factor and gradually cut off any bearing to reality that the story may have, which is a shame because the irony doesn't work as well when the characters get fully caricatured and their intentions made unrelatable.
The final act shows promise of a big surprise to turn that all around but it's sadly not to be. In fact, the big reveal only stresses the weakness of the book, namely that the author wasn't able to conjure up a suitably complex plotline to accommodate his brilliant idea of mocking, reinterpreting, ultimating worshipping art all in one breath. With that said, Caleb and Camille Fang are undeniably wonderful literary creations, it's just a shame that their final masterpiece should leave one so cold.

Is this helpful?

— Apr 4, 2012 | Add your feedback
- The Sense of an Ending (166)
- By Julian Barnes
- Finished on Mar 28, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Sense of an Ending

With a suspenseful plot, textured, in-depth characterizations, and concise, absolutely powerful writing, this book is trmendous in every sense.
From its ambiguous, dream-like opening to the seemingly harmless flashbacks to years of youth spent in pursuits of truth and love, this narration of an old ... (continue)

With a suspenseful plot, textured, in-depth characterizations, and concise, absolutely powerful writing, this book is trmendous in every sense.
From its ambiguous, dream-like opening to the seemingly harmless flashbacks to years of youth spent in pursuits of truth and love, this narration of an old man suddenly takes a steep turn for the sad and disturbing halfway through and ventures into the unforseeable for the rest of the book. It's to the credit of the astonishing imagination and penmanship of the author that such a plausible, ostensibly ordinary life story should keep you riveted and on edge the entire time- whether it's with charm, shock, mystery or deep self-refelction. While the overall structure of the story is a bit McEwan-esque/ Atonement-ish, the genius of its final, table-turning reveal and the pure brilliance of its words are not to be denied.
Indeed, words! What words does this novel have! Barnes speaks through the placid, level tone of his narrator and finds such magnificent ways to express guilt, remorse, melancholy and unfulfillment it just soars to all kinds of artistic heights and strikes you down to the deepest of emotional lows. The honesty, clear-headedness and fearlessness with which the narrator breaks down his own lies and self-delusions are beautiful and devastating in equal measure. That the book's words shook me to the core is both the reason why I'm giving it the highest praise but not the highest grade. It just scares and depresses me too much.
That said, this is a novel not to be missed. It's rare to read something that, within such limited space, goes so deep into the inner workings of the mind, works so singlemindedly with the mysteries of the heart and comes up with conclusions of the human experience so remarkably naked and true they resound and haunt.

Is this helpful?

— Mar 29, 2012 | Add your feedback

- Nobody Move (12)
- By Denis Johnson
- Finished on Mar 21, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Nobody Move

This Western/crime noir is probably too cool for its own good. From the very beginning you sense the author isn't very interested (or is trying very hard to conceal his interest) in setting up the characters and the plot clearly. Entire back stories about and between characters are to be presumed, ... (continue)

This Western/crime noir is probably too cool for its own good. From the very beginning you sense the author isn't very interested (or is trying very hard to conceal his interest) in setting up the characters and the plot clearly. Entire back stories about and between characters are to be presumed, figured out by the readers themselves, which would probably not be such a bad thing if not for the ever-palpable smirk from the voice who thinks it's so cool. That the characters never have normal, relatable conversations communicating their motivations and intentions, but just snap nasty-sounding one-liners back and forth doesn't help to clear up their relationships or wipe out the complacent bad taste of the narrative either.
It has to be said that the author does manage to create intriguing outlines for characters within the modest length of this novella, involving an accidental fugitive, a ruthless crime boss, a recovering killer, a former politician wife framed for corruption and some supporting roles with even murkier descriptions. But the promise of a grand scheme was never realized, with most of the limited space dedicated to punch lines and sensationalistic violence/sex.
In the end, what disapoints even more than the lazy open ending is how, after a lot of smoke, noise and gore, nothing seems to register or connect, and the cooly anonymous turn out to be plain simple emptiness.

Is this helpful?

— Mar 22, 2012 | Add your feedback
- The Hand That First Held Mine (31)
- By Maggie O'Farrell
- Finished on Mar 12, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
The Hand That First Held Mine

Although there are isolated passages in this novel about the love-hate relationships of three generations set in two parallel narratives that spark intense observational craft and outstanding penmanship, they can't hide the fact that the story is basically conventional melodrama with a high concept. ... (continue)

Although there are isolated passages in this novel about the love-hate relationships of three generations set in two parallel narratives that spark intense observational craft and outstanding penmanship, they can't hide the fact that the story is basically conventional melodrama with a high concept. While the structure of the book is special at first glance- jumping between two time frames and sets of characters without ever mentioning their connection- the final reveal can't come as too big a shock to the readers as it's the only way the endless back-and-forth will make any sense at all. Of course the gradual conjunction of the two narratives, the inevitability it carries and the grand emotional scale it brings when everyone finally finds his place in the big context are thrilling at times, but the author didn't manage to create a rhythm that really brings out the power of her storytelling. Too much attention was paid to inconsenquential descriptions (especially of how a monster baby tortures her poor mother), which really drags down overall readability of the book.
Elsewhere I also find the characterization mostly problematic. Both the "good guys" (ill-fated lovers or parents) and the "bad guys" (evil spouse and vengeful offprings) are painted in such broad strokes and one-sided lights that they more or less all become bloodless caricatures in the end. A general lack of originality in the plot development also disappoints.
What really salvaged the book eventually is, besides the abovementioned sparks of writing rowess, the concentrated depiction of a mother's love for her child, and how such a force of nature affects a woman from within and leaves an indelible mark on the child for life. The title sums up this age-old yet perennially true relationship with a beautiful image and is probably the author's greatest achievement of all.

Is this helpful?

— Mar 13, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Das war ich nicht (4)
- By Kristof Magnusson
- Finished on Feb 5, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Das war ich nicht

A thoroughly enjoyable, if not always plausible, read about three lost souls who crossed paths under peculiar circumstances, developed unlikely affections, found new goals in life and brought about a global financial crisis in their wake.
Even though the plot isn't always convincing (how the Germa ... (continue)

A thoroughly enjoyable, if not always plausible, read about three lost souls who crossed paths under peculiar circumstances, developed unlikely affections, found new goals in life and brought about a global financial crisis in their wake.
Even though the plot isn't always convincing (how the German translator just decided to go all the way to Chicago to find the missing American Pulitzer laureat, how the German trader could just manipulate the accounting system of his bank and directly cause the bankruptcy of his bank etc.), in between the major veins of the story, the author did conceive pretty brilliant and often quirkily funny anecdotes that connect three lives, drive unlikely romances and reveal trivial but endlessly human aspects of our nature.
The writing is good- focused and neatly clipped, efficiently establishing the very different plights and mindsets of the three characters, from there on it's a joy to watch how they find, stumble into and mess up the lives of one another. I especially enjoyed the combination of constant suspense and lighthearted fun that the inter-cutting narratives create. Sometimes you get to see the same scene from various perspectives and realize the confusion/frustration of the people involved all the better.
What hurt this novel is, besides the implausibility that handicaps some joints of the story, also its last part, which feels especially strained and stretched. You get the sense that the author has used up all there is to say about these three characters and is reluctantly going in circles. Not a very satisfying end to a story that showed quite a lot of promise.

Is this helpful?

— Feb 5, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Skippy Dies (78)
- By Paul Murray
- Finished on Jan 12, 2012
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Skippy Dies

It's impossible to sum up "Skippy Dies" because it's such an enormous endeavor, both in the wide spectrum of subjects, emotions, characters it touches on and in its formidable volume. Indeed, a major reason why this novel hits you like it does- with such ferocity and on all levels- probably lies in ... (continue)

It's impossible to sum up "Skippy Dies" because it's such an enormous endeavor, both in the wide spectrum of subjects, emotions, characters it touches on and in its formidable volume. Indeed, a major reason why this novel hits you like it does- with such ferocity and on all levels- probably lies in its broad accumulation of plot twists, deliberate collage of character development and extensive mapping of emotional journeys. In the end, you do feel like you're seeing the numerous middle school boys and girls of the Irish upper class right in front of you, as well as the teachers, priests and parents that are supposed to protect and instruct them, but who are themselves just as confused, lost and tortured in their own pursuits of happiness, accomplishment and escape. The futility and cruelty of it all come crushing down when you realize none of the characters, young and old, nice and mean, who have all become so familiar to you, can be spared facing up their choices, their past, their innermost demons. But before that, you get a roaring comedy first!
It's a testament to the gigantic talent of Paul Murray that he could balance the heft and the fun of adolescence so wonderfully that the hilarity and absurdity imperceptibly slide into regret and despair; that stories about teenage love, school bullying, substance abuse, war history, string theory, and the meaning of life should all come together like meant to be. Just when you think he's gone too far with his net-casting and the novel is spread too thin with that many side stories, they all come back to serve in some way the narrative and spirit of the book, making it only stronger and louder.
That the writing is also to die for doesn't hurt. Murray writes about teenage angst, grown-up fears with such a firm grip and clear vision it nails the sentiments and drives home their weight almost every time. He gives you ready access inside the minds of popular girls, nerdy boys, insecure teachers, possessed priests and of course the tragic hero Skippy. All very different characters with very complex personalities and crosses to bear and all made so relatable and endeared. It's pure magic.

Is this helpful?

— Jan 12, 2012 | Add your feedback
- Her Fearful Symmetry (231)
- By Audrey Niffenegger
- Finished on Nov 27, 2011
  
  Review
- Add...
  - My Shelf
  - Wish List
Her Fearful Symmetry

What a mess of a novel...all started reasonably well, with a death, two sets of twins and the promise of family mystery all dealt out in the opening chapters. But after the premises were efficiently set up, the author seems to have no idea where to take her story. The major character of the ghost wa ... (continue)

What a mess of a novel...all started reasonably well, with a death, two sets of twins and the promise of family mystery all dealt out in the opening chapters. But after the premises were efficiently set up, the author seems to have no idea where to take her story. The major character of the ghost was introduced rather awkwardly into the stagnating plot, which was as trapped inside this London apartment as itself. A whole chunk of time and space was then dedicated to the interaction with the ghost and the joint exercise of figuring out the logic of the afterlife. This entire portion of the book was thoroughly unexciting to put it mildly.
When another plot twist finally came, it was so absurd and laughably implausible that you couldn't believe the author really went along with it anyway. What followed was one ridiculous development after another. In fact, the last third of the book is so boring, illogical, substance-less and preposterous it's painful to bear.
The book is a huge disappointment after Niffenegger's wildly imaginative and fabulous brain scratcher "The Time Traveler's Wife". They are similar in the sense that both deal with the fantastical and absurd, but in this one, you get the feeling that the rules of the ghost world were made up as the book went along and the plans and intentions of the characters also appear totally whimsical, defying all common sense. When the author tried to stir things up in the final part of the book and complicated everything by playing with the identity of the older twins and the failed resurrection attempt, the result is still hopelessly lifeless and not in the least intriguing. Apart from one vividly depicted character who suffers from OCD and is confined within his own personal ticks, there's almost nothing worth salvaging in this fangless, tepid ghost tale.

Is this helpful?

— Nov 28, 2011 | Add your feedback