This is one of those books that I've been meaning to read for years. I've had so many people come in to the shop and pick it up and say, 'oooh, have you read this? it's amazing'. And i've shuffled my feet and said '..er, yeah. I've heard it's really good'. And so earlier this year I finally got round to reading it.
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| The End Of Mr. Y |
I still haven't quite worked out how to describe it. Is it a fantasy? An adventure story? A philosophical conundrum? A magical time travelling freak festival?
What I can tell you is that it grips you from the very first moment you open the book.
The main protagonist, PHD student Ariel, comes across a seemingly impossibly obscure book which, whilst incredibly important to the studies she's doing, also has a 'curse'. Everyone who reads it or is in any way involved with it, dies. Yoinks.
The book takes her on a most amazing journey, both in reality and in her dreams.
There are some parts of the book that I had no idea what was going on, but I have to tell you, it made no difference to my enjoyment whatsoever. Scarlett Thomas knows how to write. She knows how to engage the reader.
I guess it kind of looks at life, existence and being (trippy, like I said). There is also a mouse god in it called Apollo Smintheus. YES.
I am not going to reveal anything more about this book, because I want YOU to read it. It is book that people should read.
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2 comments:
I keep hearing 'READ IT!' and it's there on my shelves, but I still haven't read it either. Which, as you say, sucks a bit when you're a bookseller and your customers keep recommending it. It's even more embarrassing when it's a regular visitor and they keep coming back every week and asking if you've read it yet... It sounds perfect for a bit of cosy winter reading in the dead *coughs* sorry, 'quiet' shop - time to end its dusty exile, perhaps?
I liked this book, but I think I liked Scarlett Thomas' PopCo even more.
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