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C (2010)

by Tom McCarthy(Favorite Author)

3.08 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0307593339 (ISBN13: 9780307593337)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Knopf

review 1: the writing is exquisite, poetic with wonderful rhythm. the settings are interesting for their historical timing, and, combined with the protagonist's scientific mind, make for an enrapturing look at the transition to modernity. there is, however, a bit of a meandering nature to the book that leaves the reader wondering what the point was, although perhaps that says more about the protagonist than anything else.
review 2: This was a solid 4-star read for most of the book, but really loses it's footing in the last section. The final section is somewhat related to earlier parts thematically, though hardly a tidy wrapping up of what lead up to it. C isn't nearly as strange as the other Tom McCarthy book that I read (and liked much more), Remainder. I never reall... morey felt like I got to know the main character, Serge, very well at all (after the entire book, in which he goes through all sorts of crazy shit, all I can really tell you about who he is as a person, is that he wasn't as sad as you'd expect when his sister died, his preferred sex position is from behind, and that he digs drugs and technology). The rest of Serge's family was more interesting (especially his father) though get much less time in the book. I would have much preferred to follow what happened at Serge's father's school for the deaf than whatever it was that Serge was up to in Egypt (that is, what he was up to in Egypt other than fucking on top of a pile of corpses). McCarthy's writing style is easy going while also a bit stilted, which for some reason I really like, and he occasionally offers interesting insight into the human experience. I was a little disappointed in C, partially because the last section felt so disconnected, but mainly because Remainder was so unique, which may have given me unreasonable expectations for McCarthy's other work. less

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