Plot Synopsis: I did not finish this book. After 2 weeks, I'd only read a quarter of the book because I hated it so much. The plot, from what I read, is as follows: Hiro Protagonist, a pizza delivery man for a mafia-owned pizza company, has a bad day when he receives a pizza that must be delivered in 10 minutes (OR ELSE!). Thankfully, an annoying skateboard kourier (courier) named Y.T. saves the day (sort of). Hiro ends up unemployed and being the hacker he is, spends time in the Metaverse, a virtual reality universe where he is one of the elite. Inside the Metaverse, he is offered a drug called Snow-Crash, but doesn't take it. But his friend does and then things get weird...
Literary Analysis: Is Mr. Stephenson playing with the reader by naming his character Hiro Protagonist? It's quite the symbolic name and there is no way to overlook such a detail. Y.T. also has a strange name, especially considering the importance of race through the part of the novel I managed to read. Hiro is part Nipponese/ part New South African (?). Y.T. is "whitey." Uh huh. [Note: Y.T. is supposed to stand for Yours Truly.]
Stephenson's writing is very stylistic. Most sentences are colloquial and incomplete to give it that futuristic, cool cat vibe. After all, the world in which the novel is set is quite unique with many aspects of our world changed into strange, grotesque corporate entities. The CIA for example is now the CIC (Central Intelligence Corporation). "Burbclaves" is the term Stephenson uses for suburbs, which are owned by corporations, only allowing certain people in and out, having serious landscape regulations, and even hiring their own security contractors...who then turn any apprehended criminals to other corporations (The Clink or the more refined Hooskow).
The plot is woven through two oscillating character focuses. At first, readers glimpse into Hiro's conflicts...then Y.T.'s...then back to Hiro's again. Their stories converge, separate, and eventually converge again, but the conflict is difficult to pinpoint. The author consistently puts out new vocabulary terms, but their definitions are unclear (perhaps on purpose). Other characters are introduced, but are not really developed until pages after their first introduction.
Personal Reaction: This is one of my husband's favorite books. He loves science fiction and thought this book would be great to introduce me to the world of "cyberpunk" novels. But I hated it! I spent at least an hour every day reading this book and I barely made it a quarter of the way through after two weeks. That's an atrocious statistic for a voracious reader like myself! As I skimmed through other reviews on Goodreads, I realized this book is in the "hit or miss" category. There are some people who think it's phenomenal and others, like me, who "don't get it."
So what's wrong with Snow Crash? My husband would ask me, "Where are you in the book?" And I'd respond, "Hiro is delivering a pizza..." And that's the first 10% of the book, which my husband said is NOT the plot. Huh? So why spend so much time on every little detail of Hiro's car, the burbclave, the way he tries to knock Y.T. off? That's what I hated most about this book - whatever conflict there was, it wasn't interesting. Delivering a pizza with some serious consequences about it being late is DUMB. Y.T. attaching her skateboard to a minivan in a burbclave and getting arrested is DUMB. Even the Metaverse and Hiro's sword fight with some Nipponese businessman is just plain DUMB.
And my husband assured me "That's not the plot." Okay, then why doesn't the author just GET ON WITH IT!?
The second problem with this novel is Stephenson's colloquial writing. As a secondary English teacher, I've read my fair share of young adult novels. Snow Crash is a great book for ADHD kids and I mean that in the kindest way! Stephenson bounces around in his writing. Every paragraph is a tangent from the previous one. It's great for those readers who get bored very easily and need distractions every other paragraph. However, don't expect things to line up after reading all of Stephenson's diversions. The tangents are so far out there, you'll forget what the hell is going on (if anything is going on at all).
On top of that, the incomplete sentences are supposed to be cool and trendy. I found them as likable as being in the backseat with someone who'd never driven before, constantly slamming on the brakes whenever the needle on the speedometer went over 10mph. The extremely jolty writing did not move me through the story...whatever story there was to be told. Even Stephenson's lingo - his made-up words and crazy names - stunt the speed at which you can read this book. I mean, really, how do you internalize a name like Da5id? I've seen crazy names before and I personally hate when authors go out of their way to select an unpronounceable name. So when I saw Da5id appear on the page, I cringed. As if I didn't have enough emotional baggage against an author using the name Hiro Protagonist for his...ugh...protagonist.
Final Rating: 2/10. I'll give this book some credit for an interesting interpretation of a futuristic world. But that's it. This book was a slow, painful read and I'm glad I've moved on to a better book.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
Plot Synopsis: Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey's topsy-turvy relationship continues in the second book of the Fifty Shades trilogy. As Ana tries to understand where their relationship is going, Christian tackles his demons head-on to stay with the woman he loves. In the meanwhile, the other women in Christian's life begin threatening the delicate threads of his tentative relationship with Ana. Will Ana and Christian be able to survive both the pressures in and out of their union?
Literary Analysis: Unlike Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker sticks to one single plot line, leaving the reader to simply focus on Ana and Christian. Christian's character has completely changed since the first book. Once a strong, forceful man, now he is portrayed as a groveling, romantic whimp. There is a reason for his change of character, but it may leave some readers unsatisfied. Ana's character lacks continuity from the first novel, and unlike Christian, her change is not justified. It's hard to believe she'd suddenly want Christian to whip and spank her when that's the very reason she left him the first time. It is she who eggs on Christian's deviant side and that's the side she doesn't like (but of course, when it's happening, she likes it). It will leave readers confused and unable to trust the narrator. Her true feelings are not fully expressed, despite pages and pages of internal processing.
Personal Reaction: Let me express how hard it was to write the plot synopsis for this novel. Unlike its predecessor, Fifty Shades Darker lacks tension. Someone may argue that Leila's lurking creates suspense, but it's pushed so far into the background of this story that it was hardly on my radar when Leila actually appeared. Don't worry - I don't think I could spoil anything in this story -- there's nothing to spoil. So if you're still interested in reading this book, you're safe reading this review. Most of the book amounts to Ana's and Christian's sexual escapades. Sure, at first, it's exciting, but once you begin reading about the 5th time they've had sex in one day, it gets rather annoying. The sex is all the same, right down to the lines E.L. James uses to describe it. Who cares if they do it in Christian's bedroom, a boathouse, or on a pool table? The location has changed, but it's all the same "heady stuff."
The rest of the novel contains rather boring events - Ana teasing Christian via e-mail, Ana going to work, Ana and Christian on a yacht, Ana and Christian at a charity event... what's next, taking the subway? Anything of interest is revealed only after painstakingly reading through more sexcapades and will mostlikely be mentioned in a few casual lines at the end of a chapter. Even the end of the novel, which supposedly makes you want to read the last book of the trilogy, isn't all that interesting. You just think, "Okay, so?"
Needless to say, I will pass on reading Fifty Shades Freed. There are no more secrets to be revealed and I refuse to be burdened by one confused, self-sabotaging character who always needs rescuing and one once strong, now pussywhipped (oh yes, I went there...) character. Forget it.
Final Rating: 5/10 - Boring plot line, annoying characters, excessive sex scenes, and repetitive descriptive vocabulary all contribute to the average rating of this book. For anyone considering reading it, I'd say save yourself some time and just read a spoiler summary of the next two books in the series. It's just not worth it.
Literary Analysis: Unlike Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker sticks to one single plot line, leaving the reader to simply focus on Ana and Christian. Christian's character has completely changed since the first book. Once a strong, forceful man, now he is portrayed as a groveling, romantic whimp. There is a reason for his change of character, but it may leave some readers unsatisfied. Ana's character lacks continuity from the first novel, and unlike Christian, her change is not justified. It's hard to believe she'd suddenly want Christian to whip and spank her when that's the very reason she left him the first time. It is she who eggs on Christian's deviant side and that's the side she doesn't like (but of course, when it's happening, she likes it). It will leave readers confused and unable to trust the narrator. Her true feelings are not fully expressed, despite pages and pages of internal processing.
Personal Reaction: Let me express how hard it was to write the plot synopsis for this novel. Unlike its predecessor, Fifty Shades Darker lacks tension. Someone may argue that Leila's lurking creates suspense, but it's pushed so far into the background of this story that it was hardly on my radar when Leila actually appeared. Don't worry - I don't think I could spoil anything in this story -- there's nothing to spoil. So if you're still interested in reading this book, you're safe reading this review. Most of the book amounts to Ana's and Christian's sexual escapades. Sure, at first, it's exciting, but once you begin reading about the 5th time they've had sex in one day, it gets rather annoying. The sex is all the same, right down to the lines E.L. James uses to describe it. Who cares if they do it in Christian's bedroom, a boathouse, or on a pool table? The location has changed, but it's all the same "heady stuff."
The rest of the novel contains rather boring events - Ana teasing Christian via e-mail, Ana going to work, Ana and Christian on a yacht, Ana and Christian at a charity event... what's next, taking the subway? Anything of interest is revealed only after painstakingly reading through more sexcapades and will mostlikely be mentioned in a few casual lines at the end of a chapter. Even the end of the novel, which supposedly makes you want to read the last book of the trilogy, isn't all that interesting. You just think, "Okay, so?"
Needless to say, I will pass on reading Fifty Shades Freed. There are no more secrets to be revealed and I refuse to be burdened by one confused, self-sabotaging character who always needs rescuing and one once strong, now pussywhipped (oh yes, I went there...) character. Forget it.
Final Rating: 5/10 - Boring plot line, annoying characters, excessive sex scenes, and repetitive descriptive vocabulary all contribute to the average rating of this book. For anyone considering reading it, I'd say save yourself some time and just read a spoiler summary of the next two books in the series. It's just not worth it.
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