50 Book Challenge Part Five

They can only 'cross over' through official channels in Copula Hall (v well named). Otherwise it's breach/illegal.

And it's a crime because it's been decreed a crime, just like the Nazis could decree that Jews owning telephones etc was a crime. Equally ridiculous. That's the point!

If it's a joke, I didn't find it funny.

In that case what the hell does it mean "to cross over" to "the other city"? Why can this only be done in some places and not others?

And how can it be a crime to see people in the other group?

I think you're hugely missing the point, Cote. Geographically, there is only one city. But it has been 'cleaved' into two because of some unknown political/religious/somethingorother schism. Thus it is two cities.

Except it isn't, geographically.

Except it is, politically/religiously/everythingly.

It's a joke/metaphor used to explore the idea of otherness by making the 'other' co-exist in the same place. If a reader's mind won't accept that central metaphor, then the novel obviously won't work for that reader.

I thought it was really clever - so clever that I forgave it the less effective elements, which, in my view, were some inadequately controlled sentences and a not terribly effective ending for a 'who-dunnit' (I actually thought the villain was a) obvious from v early on and b) rather Scoobydoocartoonish). I forgave those because I loved the central premise so much.

And I wrote something barely understandable there...

And I wrote something barely understandable there...

I have City too. I going to have to read it because I barely understand the reviews it sounds so bonkers

I am amazed that some here are not bothered by the many unanswered questions raised in City & The City. AIBU To expect an author to write a story that makes sense?

Especially, though:

What does it mean that there are two alternate realities/dimensions/cities when (1) they all see each other clear as day, (2) they can physically cross over whenever they want, (3) they have to "unsee" in time not to get run over by cars in the other world, (4) they can only tell who is in which city from their clothes, and (5) even viruses cross over all the time.

So basically there are no different cities. All these people live on the same city& walk around each other pretending not to see each other It makes no sense whatsoever to me.

Wasn't I right when I said you would love it, Remus? Funny how our tastes in fiction books are such polar opposites!

"I didn't notice anything in the novel that caused me to think the 'artefacts' had any special powers."

Loc 1482 / Page 110:
"You understand these pieces are unique, Inspector"
"I think so. I've heard all the rumors, of course."
"You mean their magic powers?"

Loc 4224 / Page 324:
No, they can't sell it, I said, that's not what this is about. We had all heard rumors about Precursor artifacts. Their questionable physics. Their properties. They want to see what's true.
_

And then none of it is explained. This sort of thing pisses me off in a book.

Re. The City & - I didn't find those questions problematic either, I read it more as an allegory than a 'could be real' sci-fi novel.

Just got a replacement copy of Imperial Life in the Emerald City by
Rajiv Chandrasekaran for a re-read (mine got 'borrowed' ages back) - now there's a deeply surreal world.

I really enjoyed the City & the City too Remus ,I just accepted the status quo too - maybe I don't have an enquiring enough mind Cote but I liked the oddness & cold war feeling. I lived in Romania for a bit just after Ceaucescu had been overthrown & we weren't meant to mix with any Romanians - hard when you're living in their country - & had to report any conversations we had with them. It reminded of that in a much whackier way.

26. Surface Detail - Iain M Banks. I'd loved the Hydrogen Sonata so thought I'd read another Iain M Banks. I didn't enjoy this as much. It's roughly about a virtual battle between pro-Hell and anti-hell factions. I found it a bit long-winded & the main villain was a caricature with no redeeming features.

27. My Sister and Other Liars - Ruth Dugdall. This was a 99p kindle buy. An anorexic girl who is in hospital is reviewing what happened when her sister was knocked out by an unknown assailant the year before and she tried to investigate. It's OK,thought it was a bit obvious and possibly upsetting for those who have experienced anorexia.

I've moved on to a non-fiction book The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds. Suitably bonkers so far with lots of stuff about Robert Anton Wilson, The Illuminati and Discordians.

Kitten
Can't wait to see what you think! :)

oh, I've downloaded The City and The City and planning on reading in the next few weeks, will be interesting if I'm team Remus or team Cote - I have agreed with both of you about books in the past!

Chillie - that series sounds interesting! Might try to find the first.

I've just finished:
24. Inspector Hobbes and the Blood - Wilkie Martin - crap and annoying local journalist sent to shadow a local policeman who turns out not to be completely human, and there's lots of other non-human woo types about. Aimed for amusing, often came off as annoying. Bit crap, quick read. There's better 'mental chewing gum' books about, don't bother.

As I said, Cote, for me those questions were immaterial. For me, what was most important and most interesting was that the citizens just had to try to learn to cope with the system imposed on them by the city/cities. None of those living remember anything different, and have therefore accepted its weirdness and don't question it. They know people disappear if they breach, so they generally don't try. It's the wall in the head syndrome. And I didn't notice anything in the novel that caused me to think the 'artefacts' had any special powers.

If I can find my book I have I'm happy to post it on, it cost about £15 but it like new.

"questions you raise in your review are exactly the questions that make the novel interesting!"

Doubt it. I think novels need to bring some sort if resolution to the questions they raise, such as:

• How did these cities diverge?

• What came before them? (The culture that left the artefacts in archeological sites)

• What are the special powers attributed to these artefacts? (Alluded to but never really spelled out)

• What does it mean that there are two alternate realities/dimensions/cities when (1) they all see each other clear as day, (2) they can physically cross over whenever they want, (3) they have to "unsee" in time not to get run over by cars in the other world, (4) they can only tell who is in which city from their clothes, and (5) even viruses cross over all the time.

• Why the hell is it not "allowed" (by Breach) to see the other side, let alone visit? What seems to be the problem with seeing them, since they are all visible?

• Who are Breach? Don't they have a life? Why the hell do they care so much if people in one city see those in the other city? Do their nappies get in a twist when viruses cross, too?

Is it just me or does anyone else wish they had an amazing library of books?

It excites me about my next home, I can hopefully acquire many bookcases, then make it an ambition to fill the shelves.

Chillie - That sounds really interesting.

29. Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell

The retelling of the Arthurian legend continues - Arthur has united the British kingdoms and the fight turns to the Saxons. Merlin is seeking the treasures of Britain to bring back the gods, and peace reigns in Dumnonia as Mordred grows towards adulthood and his throne. But the peace cannot last, and Arthur faces a dreadful betrayal.

Third book of the year: Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austin. I have decided to err towards the classics as reading the paranormal wasn't conducive to a peaceful nights sleep.

Is anyone else reading the classics, as would love to mirror what you're reading so we can discuss what we're reading.

Cote - I think the questions you raise in your review are exactly the questions that make the novel interesting! Why the 'split' happened doesn't feel terribly important to me. What's more important is that the citizens of both cities have to learn to deal with it, and with the stupid and petty rules and bureaucracies that then entails.

It's part Cold War-esque, part Kafka! It takes the idea of neighbours/relatives living on opposite sides of the Berlin wall (or other cities divided by racial/religious conflict - Belfast et al) to the next, deliberately ridiculous extreme. We don't like him because he's Catholic/Western/black/white/whateverthehell becomes I daren't even SEE him because it has been decreed that he is Other. I thought it was a brilliant concept.

And the 'hunting artefacts' thing then becomes equally and deliberately ridiculous (or it did in my mind), because whatever the past, whatever real or fantastical vision/version of the city/cities is being found doesn't matter, because in the here and now citizens have to deal with stuff the way they've had inflicted on them. Only the foreigners are particularly interested in history or artefacts; everybody else is too busy trying to just get on and keep their heads down and not die/disappear horribly for daring to question/breach. It reminded me a lot of the reading I've done about East Germany.

For me the 'who-dunnit' and history stuff was less important than the city/cities itself/themselves.

Delighted to have finished a few more over the past few days:

29. Lamentation - C.J. Samson. This is the 6th book in the Shardlake series. In this one Shardlake is one more caught up in the intrigue and double crossing at court. Queen Catherine (Parr) has written a book reflecting her thoughts on faith that may have disastrous consequence should the king read the contents. The book disappears and Matthew Shardlake is charged with finding the book and who is behind its disappearance. This is set amid the backdrop of the burning of heretics and religious persecution. While I enjoyed this a lot, it was a bit dragged out and a lot of the themes of his previous books were repeated.

30. In A Dark, Dark Wood - Ruth Ware. Nora is invited to her old friend Clare's hen party. Some days later she is found injured and amnesic, close to the house where the party was being held. Someone has been shot dead and Nora seems to be the main suspect, however she can't remember everything that happened. Run of the mill thriller which fell quite a way short for me.

Good to read your review of the City and the City Remus. I bought it last year on kindle and is on my list for 2017.

I am also rereading and almost finished the last of the Fionnavar Tapestry books by Guy Gavriel Kay and I will review the three together in my next post.

On Audible I am alternating between A History of Britain in 21 Womenby Jenni Murry (reveiwd upthread) and Slaughterhous-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and enjoying both enormously.

Sadik - Yes! I knew that the name Arkady was familiar from somewhere in my youth! I loved The Fiundation books

Glad you enjoyed The City and The City, Remus - I read it a second time last year, and thought it stood up well to revisiting.

As a teenager I so wanted to be called Arkady - but after Arkady Darell from Asimov's Foundation series (full name Arcadia, which in retrospect is even worse )