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Monday, December 30, 2019

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez

I suppose everyone comes up against a novel that utterly frustrates attempts at writing a review.  One which leaves you with a sense of ambiguity and no way to explain what you think about it because you still aren't sure.

World building:  A
Character Depth: A
Prose: A
but...
Theme:  wonders/horrors of science?  colonialism?  friendship and family? betrayal?  the never changing flaws of society?  Such a mixture of thematic elements and development.

A fresh and unusual science fiction novel that defies classification and for me, explanation.

from description:  A mysterious child lands in the care of a solitary woman, changing both of their lives forever in this captivating debut of connection across space and time.

"This is when your life begins."


Absorbing, haunting, and difficult to pin down.

Read in September; blog review scheduled for Dec. 30.

NetGalley/Random House
Science Fiction.  Jan. 14, 2020.  Print length:  400 pages.  

10 comments:

  1. This sounds intriguing despite the ambiguous theme. Maybe I'll have to be in the right mood to read it. ;p

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    1. Maybe. I'm not sure. I liked it, but can't categorize it. :)

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  2. Hmm....this does sound intriguing. But was the ending satisfying and good?

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  3. The fact that this book defies easy characterization in a review makes it that much more interesting to try for myself!

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    1. It does defy my ability to characterize or explain!

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  4. Lots of strands here to connect. Thanks for the update.

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    1. Yep. I'm still not sure exactly what I think, and yet...I liked it.

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  5. I've got to check this one out. I love books that just leave you with so many emotions/thoughts rolling through you.

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    1. It is certainly one of those books that leave you pondering after the last page! I wasn't sure in the first few chapters if I'd finish the book, but then the changes in pace and characters wrapped me up in curiosity. :)

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