Special Topics in Calamity Physics
3 journalers for this copy...
My review:
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Reason for Book’s Selection: I selected the book due to the combination of “free” and “catchy title.” Were I to have considered the book based solely upon the description on my copy’s cover, I probably would not have read it.
Plot: Blue, the protagonist, is the progeny of a genius and is herself, a genius. Just in time for her senior year of high school, she and her father land in a small town in the Carolinas, where Blue meets and attempts to solve the mystery of Hannah.
Characterization: Generally speaking, the characterization reads as somewhat consistent (meaning within the novel and not in the context of "realistic or not"). However, the reader may stumble over a few sections where it is unclear if the author is handing the audience inconsistent characterization or is merely portraying the doubts and confusion of the protagonist’s sleuthing. By the end, however, the characterization reads as a bit strained and moves into unrealistic (at least to me).
Narration: This novel contains a neat feature which I have literally never seen in another book—the protagonist, who narrates, inserts “citations” into the story. The novel is supposed to be the protagonist’s biography, and these citations offer the reader rare and dark humor that will tickle some funny bones. However, some of the citations and references narrated in the book are obscure even for the well-read.
Description: In the tradition more common to French and other existential literature, the author wields a heavy hand in the arena of description. However, as the story does actually contain a working plot, the description does not drag the story down as one might expect. In fact, readers who are fans of cynical and dark humor will enjoy the descriptions.
Setting: Mostly the Carolinas (USA) and a brief stint in Paris, France
Prequel / Sequel / Etc: N/A
Ingenuity/Premise: The author has really broken the mold with this novel. Perhaps there is another novel like this one, but I have yet to read it or hear about it. Top marks in this category!
Language: What is a somewhat existential novel without language and some mild sexuality?
Positives: Oddly enough, the protagonist reminded me a bit of the MTV character Daria (from the 1990s). I found the humor, citations, and other ingenuities intriguing and motivating, as without them, I doubt I would have pushed through all 500 pages of somewhat small font. This is one of the few existential (or, rather, “existential-like”) novels that I have read which contains a significant plot.
Negatives: In the world of fiction, this novel borders on a slow read. It could have been at least 100 pages shorter. In the great tradition of existentialism, it offers a somewhat grim view of the world. For some, especially those not well-versed in the English language, the references and dark humor are tough to crack, causing the book to lose some of its magic. The ending will fall flat for some readers. Some of the items in the novel that are spouted as facts are not, in fact, facts at all.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
Reason for Book’s Selection: I selected the book due to the combination of “free” and “catchy title.” Were I to have considered the book based solely upon the description on my copy’s cover, I probably would not have read it.
Plot: Blue, the protagonist, is the progeny of a genius and is herself, a genius. Just in time for her senior year of high school, she and her father land in a small town in the Carolinas, where Blue meets and attempts to solve the mystery of Hannah.
Characterization: Generally speaking, the characterization reads as somewhat consistent (meaning within the novel and not in the context of "realistic or not"). However, the reader may stumble over a few sections where it is unclear if the author is handing the audience inconsistent characterization or is merely portraying the doubts and confusion of the protagonist’s sleuthing. By the end, however, the characterization reads as a bit strained and moves into unrealistic (at least to me).
Narration: This novel contains a neat feature which I have literally never seen in another book—the protagonist, who narrates, inserts “citations” into the story. The novel is supposed to be the protagonist’s biography, and these citations offer the reader rare and dark humor that will tickle some funny bones. However, some of the citations and references narrated in the book are obscure even for the well-read.
Description: In the tradition more common to French and other existential literature, the author wields a heavy hand in the arena of description. However, as the story does actually contain a working plot, the description does not drag the story down as one might expect. In fact, readers who are fans of cynical and dark humor will enjoy the descriptions.
Setting: Mostly the Carolinas (USA) and a brief stint in Paris, France
Prequel / Sequel / Etc: N/A
Ingenuity/Premise: The author has really broken the mold with this novel. Perhaps there is another novel like this one, but I have yet to read it or hear about it. Top marks in this category!
Language: What is a somewhat existential novel without language and some mild sexuality?
Positives: Oddly enough, the protagonist reminded me a bit of the MTV character Daria (from the 1990s). I found the humor, citations, and other ingenuities intriguing and motivating, as without them, I doubt I would have pushed through all 500 pages of somewhat small font. This is one of the few existential (or, rather, “existential-like”) novels that I have read which contains a significant plot.
Negatives: In the world of fiction, this novel borders on a slow read. It could have been at least 100 pages shorter. In the great tradition of existentialism, it offers a somewhat grim view of the world. For some, especially those not well-versed in the English language, the references and dark humor are tough to crack, causing the book to lose some of its magic. The ending will fall flat for some readers. Some of the items in the novel that are spouted as facts are not, in fact, facts at all.
Released at the BC in DC June 23, 2012, meet-up.
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Happy reading and happy trails!
==================================================
Dear friend,
If you are reading this, congratulations!
You’ve caught a free traveling book!
Since BookCrossers hope to make the world a library, thank you for joining the fun!
You can keep the book, read it, pass it to a friend, or leave it somewhere nice and dry for someone else to find! The choice is yours!
I hope you enjoy the book or at least the fun of passing it along! And thanks for letting us know that you found the book!
Happy reading and happy trails!
What a cool way to start the morning. Saw the edge of a book sitting on a planter as I trudged into work and my curiosity got the better of me. And here is a 'traveling' book! I'm not sure its my kind of book, but I'll give it a try. Whether I finish it or not, I'll certainly release it into the wild again at some point. Thank you.
I wound uploading the book to my Kindle and re-releasing it into the wild. I'm 85% done and enjoying it greatly. Thank you.
I wound uploading the book to my Kindle and re-releasing it into the wild. I'm 85% done and enjoying it greatly. Thank you.
haven't read
