For me, line by line this was perfection. I went into New Sun with a lot of trepidation about it being super bleak and impenetrable only to find a shockingly enjoyable and warm read. It just really hit right.
On to the next one! ( )

This book is incredibly odd. I started it months ago and just finished the last few pages today, but what I remember of the book is this: the plot is terrible, but the writing is occasionally fantastic. There are some really interesting points throughout the book, most of which are a result of Severian's philosophical musings and conversations, and are a direct result of the personality Wolfe builds up for Severian. The story itself, however, is extremely mediocre to the point that reading the book is like trying to find literary gems in the rough. That being said, the gems are probably worth it, and if you're the type of person who likes reading what essentially amounts to surrealist literature, I'd recommend the book. It is also incredibly literary and dense, probably more so than any other science fiction I've ever read. ( )

Oh I did not like this. Plotless, meandering, boring. I truly do not understand why people hype this book. UGH ( )

Difficult to say what I think about this book. Lots of depth in imagery, language and narration. Reading other reviews, I understand that one needs to read all 4 books, to really appreciate. I'm determined to do so. ( )

DNF @78%, but will be returning to the text in the future


With a heavy heart, an autistic meltdown, and a disproportionate amount of grief and frustration with myself, I had to call this, regardless of how close I was to the end.

I just couldn't get beyond the misogyny to the apparent greatness here and know that Severe ADHD X audiobook didn't help. I'm not saying the book/ anyone who loves it is bad, and, like, the years of attempts and trying and failing it took me to *get* my beloved Dark Souls, which has led to probably over a thousand hours across various FromSoft games that have been an indescribable boon for my mental health, I will return to the text later. In the same way many read such meaning into The Book of the New Sun, Dark Souls and so many other things I enjoy are not free of their issues, and I would not deny or denigrate anyone's critical enjoyment of anything that is important to them. Hell, I had the same reaction as Willow to 1Q84 (https://tinyurl.com/2dkvex3w), but absolutely adore KDBook's joy and confusion and glorious chaos energy to it too (https://tinyurl.com/hvktj64y). Just as I appreciated Liene's perspective on The Book of the New Sun (https://tinyurl.com/2243x78h) and I am very intrigued by my own feelings on Babel when I get to it and how I relate to Willow and Liene's polar opposite (judging by thumbnails) views on it.

Books with problematic elements can still be works of art, even if that element isn't something a prospective member of that audience cannot get past. The Joys of Subjectivity. I am not attacking anyone or their favourite works and authors--I wish I didn't feel the need to make this explicitly clear when it should be implicit in everything else I have said, but I have seen the Murak-army and Wolfe Soldiers unleash their big-brained hate and denigration on anyone who doesn't agree with them, particularly any not cis male who takes umbrage with the misogyny, so yeah. Love the books, many people of all genders do and don't like them. It's OK to not like them, as it is to like them. It's just worth acknowledging the misogyny and male gaze for what they are.

Hopefully, I will have a better time next year. We shall see!

If you are still overly upset by this please remember I am an unreliable narrator.