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34/70 booksRead 70 books by Dec 31, 2023. You were 36 books away from reaching your goals!
Often touted as the beginning of magical realism, a funny read which is frankly bonkers. Very enjoyable.
This was long, like really long. A 3 book series which took me the best part of 15 months. To be totally honest, I loved the first 2 1/2 books but I really wanted to just finish the last one out of pride.
Criticims of this book often are that the novel is too high on substance rather than content. Frankly, I find this a rather redundant viewpoint.
Plascencia's style allows the substance of the novel to be explored in an unconventional and different way. The baby Nostradamus for instance being blacked out instead of saying ‘he didn't speak' allows the reader to infer their own image of the text.
I recognise to some aspect the self-fulfilling nature of placing himself as the main character but the evolution of the novel and exploring the relationship between not only characters and the page but the novelist, their real life and the page is a dynamic often left unexplored.
I found this novels characters separate and endearing, leaving one desiring to know what happens to every single one of them. The confusion that exists is designed to challenge us and challenge the way we interpret novels.
A thoroughly enjoying and different read.
Reading this makes me feel as if I am in the novel. I feel like I am the one attempting to digest and work out the ulterior motives at play.
HIs use of detachment from the ulterior motives of the ‘Circus' allows the reader to fully grasp the ‘left in the dark' attitude of the protagonist and Liz. The presentation of those on the other side as friendly and comrades presents the disenfranchised agent perfectly.
One of my favourites, Le Carré does it again.
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