This was the first book I''ve read of Mr. Mievelle''s. I was snared because of the
pages of praise printed within its inside cover. This book has won acclaim from people I have never heard of, publications I have never heard of, so it must be good, right?The answer to that question is not so easy. The first few pages did nothing to snare my interest and I found myself wondering what China had done to earn such praise. Had the world gone mad? He
begins the story with abstract language, using terms not found in any dictionary. At times he falls into random, abstract poetry that is difficult to digest, has little to do with the
plot and breaks my concentration from the
main story.He draws the story out over 578 pages, yet for all that he is sparse with the details of many creatures. Several times I felt I was left out of a private joke shared only by China and his closest friends. Furthermore, the way he begins the book with four pages of italicized prose portraying the death of a creature he never fully describes made me want to throw the book against the wall.After that the plot is finally
introduced to the reader in a series of disjointed letters written by the main
character. These first few pages almost lost China a reader.His language is both eloquent and exceedingly crude. The main character is well-crafted. If you can make it to Part II: Salt, which begins on page 73, you won''t be able to put the book down. However, the book is a long, and confusing ride filled with creatures that are mentioned, but hardly described. Histories are introduced and discarded making one wonder of their importance. My advice to the reader determined to conquer this one is to read straight through to the end. Do not pause for breath, dictionaries or to keep the convoluted tales distinct in your mind.
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