Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Pages: 367
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: A
Challenge: Calico Reaction's Book Club - August Challenge
Sorry for not getting this review up earlier; it took me longer to read this book than I thought. Mostly that is due to the fact that I had to read it in small bursts. The prose is so poetic and what I would say abstract that it's hard to get into at first. After some time though I got into the groove and it was a fabulous read.
I didn't think I would like this month's selection. I didn't vote for this one, and I figured anything so based on sex would be too tacky. And yes, there is sex but it is not overused. It suits the story perfectly. Anyways, at first I found myself thinking "wah...?" a lot in this book, but that's the fun of it. The images Valente creates in her story are nothing like I ever read before. That's what makes this book good for me: something different, special, an experience rather than just a story.
The plot mostly deals with the four character's experiences and discoveries in our world and those in Palimpsest. I found myself first attracted to Sei and her fascination with trains. I really enjoyed her storyline through the whole book. I also came to like November and Ludovico by the end of it. Oleg never interested me too much. I suppose it was because of his obsession and his desperation to cling to it.
This book is nominated for the Hugo Award. I have only read one other nomination, WWW:Wake by Robert J. Sawyer and I would say that I would vote for Palimpsest just for sheer writing talent and originality (not to say Wake isn't original itself).
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a different reading experience, doesn't mind very poetic prose and many sex scenes. I'll be reading more by Valente for sure.
Great review! I'll be interested to read your review of In the Night Garden and see how the two books compare! :)
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