Reviewed by wcs53 on
I went into the book blind, which I think was a good thing. As you read the book you realise that there is something in the background that is of utmost importance to the identity of the main characters and what their purpose in life is. As the story slowly unwinds there are hints and small revelations as to what this mystery is. It's only about halfway through that the shocking truth becomes more obvious. This is why I said that the book requires patience. I think this also helps you to start asking questions about what the implications would be for a society that carries out what this 'thing' is that is not obvious at the start of the book.
I'm not going to give away what this 'thing' is, because I think that it is better to go into the book blind, because it is so well written and crafted that this lack of knowledge really heightens the reading experience and enjoyment.
The further I got into the book, especially beyond my first stopping point, the more I knew that I wanted to finish it. It is a sad, almost melancholic, book. At some point I would like to read it again and think more deeply about some of the questions raised by the kind of society depicted in the book.
I've read of this book being described as a science fiction book. This is not really the case, although the main characters have a science fiction element to who, or what, they are. The book doesn't focus on this aspect of their lives. It is there, but is not the main focus of the story, even though it is important to their identity.
This book is well worth reading, but be patient and understand that it is the slow unwinding of the story that makes it a very enjoyable read.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 22 May, 2012: Finished reading
- 22 May, 2012: Reviewed