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I think it's lovely. I wasn't totally convinced by the Quebecois stuff, but all the rest of it was great. I nearly cared about tennis, which is an achievement for me.
I've started it and like it so far. It's intriguing. I can't see where it is going yet but he writes so well. My only gripe is the book is too heavy to hold and my hand hurts!
I absolutely loved it. It's probably my number one book of all time (although subject to recency bias). I think dazzling would be the best word. So bloody clever. Like NQC, wasn't 100% about the stuff on the cliff, partly because I just couldn't seem to visualise it (which is weird given how other parts of the book were really vividly evocative for me). Also wasn't that keen on Eschaton sections, perhaps because of a sneaking feeling that I wasn't quite getting it. Overall impression was definitely that I was knocked sideways by his sheer genius, really involved with a lot of the characters, and totally entertained by it. I think as with many hugely ambitious books he was short of 100% successful but it's still an extraordinary achievement.
Oh, and it took me a while to get into it, I think because I was reading in 18 minute slots on my 6.30am commute! Nearly cried when I finished it and immediately bought four copies on Amazon to press into the hands of unsuspecting visitors (no reports back as yet! - should add this is extremely uncharacteristic behaviour for a renowned skintflint).
Top tip - two bookmarks. Wish I'd thought of this one whilst I was reading it!
Funny you say 'two bookmarks' because I've done that already and only because someone gave me a bookmark the other day and I thought 'ooh I need that!' I'm on about page 190 now and although that is nothing yet I am just about getting into it. There are parts that irritate me but there are parts that are truly brilliant. His ability to describe is amazing. I laughed out loud on the train today at one bit - the bit about the video telephone things that people hated. Not many books make me laugh out loud. I am so glad I picked this up and wasn't too daunted by its hugeness.
I'm getting on really well with this and am picking it up at any spare moment I have (just now while waiting for my DSs' pasta to cook) but I've just got to a particularly long footnote with footnotes. So now I need three bookmarks!
I'm on page 770 now and I totally love this book. I've only got 200 pages left and I am going to be sooo sad to finish! It is like being in another world and being totally absorbed in it. My only complaint is that the text of the footnotes is so small and when you get a ten-page footnote it hurts the eyes a bit!
