The Sword and Laser discussion

I could possibly read it again. And yet, I'm not sure how many stars I'd give the book. My format choice was audio, which was amazingly performed, and wonder if reading the narrative would elicit a different experience. How about you?

Life holds infinite possibilities.

As others have mentioned, the first quarter of the book was pretty rough going. I wasn't quite sure what was happening. Waiting for the story to form. Waiting to understand.

I'm not sure if ever read a book like this before. The stage. The dialogue. The story within the story. The words. Ever documenting. Today and not today. Oh my. Unique.

I kind of want to read it again eventually. To see how the beginning bits change when I know where we're going. But I want to give it some space, first. And I fed that with all the other books on my list, I might never get around to it.

Actually I did read it again. Almost immediately. I finished it and went "What just happened?". So I went back and skimmed it again, looking for plot points and picking up on all the bits I missed the first time around. That was helpful, but, (view spoiler)[finally didn't answer the main mystery: What happened to Severin? (hide spoiler)]

Also, just asking: Shouldn't this be under the topic "Radiance", not "Rad"?
Edit: So sorry. Should have put spoiler tags

Moved this into the correct discussion folder!

Maclurker wrote: "...skimmed it again, looking for plot points and picking up on all the bits I missed the first time around. That was helpful, but, finally didn't answer the main mystery: What happened to Severin?"

Being about 200 pages in and still floundering, I am dismayed to learn from your post that I will never know anything more about the primary plot point. Doesn't motivate me to finish. . .

Noomninam wrote: "Being about 200 pages in and still floundering, I am dismayed ..."

That is not entirely true. I was being a bit simplistic. (view spoiler)[There is an ending and an explanation of sorts about Severin's disappearance. But it gets lost in the different points of view and is not very concrete. It's more "here are all the clues, you figure it out". (hide spoiler)]

I did enjoy it and think it was worth finishing, if only to get all the world descriptions and enjoy the language. Valente does make you work. So don't get discouraged. The book does start to make sense as you get further along.

I keep thinking that this is one of those books that I will remember more fondly as time goes by. Some of the very things that made it work to get though will be what I remember fondly later. Not sure a second read will really change much.