Review: Kraken

Kraken
Kraken by China MiƩville
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I like Mr. Mieville’s fiction. I did not like this book. How do you review Mieville fiction? The more imaginative the better, right? But there are risks if the characters, their world, and their quests are too attenuated, too disconnected from the world I awake to. That was Ray Bradbury’s challenge, ney? So, what’s wrong with this book. Too many made-up words? Too much religion? Characters who cared more about each other than the reader cared about all of them combined? Eschatology? Squids?

Perhaps it’s worth a second read, but I fell asleep twice reading this book. A bit too turgid and too estranged for my tastes. I was surprised to see the average review over 3 (out of 5). I finished the book, which violates my rule–toss if I get 100 pages less my age into it and there’s no there there. But respect, Mieville. Even if you you have to release the Kraken every once in a while.

At this point, punish my kids with Julianne Moore in Blindness, Mark Wahlberg in the Happening, and Billy in Kraken. Call me Ishmael.

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